The head of Criminal Investigation Department 2, Vera Konietzko, together with the head of the Oberhausen police press office, Maik Podlech, explained the relevant figures relating to crime in Oberhausen. They also presented the 2023 crime report, which contains interesting facts and figures as well as interviews with the head of the criminal investigation department.

The figures (excerpt) from Oberhausen at a glance:

Overall crime

In 2023, a total of 18,276 crimes were recorded in Oberhausen. This means that the total number increased by 10.02 percent compared to the previous year (2022: 16,612). The crime clearance rate in 2023 was 54.57%, a fall of 2.21 percentage points compared to 2022.

The number of suspects amounted to 8,109 in 2023, an increase of 11.42% compared to the previous year. 1,904 suspects were under 21 years old. Here, too, there was an increase of 3.53% compared to the previous year. Of all documented suspects, 2,987 suspects did not have German citizenship. This represents an increase of 10.75% (2022: 2,697 suspects) compared to the previous year and accounts for 36.84% of all suspects.

Crimes against life

The number of crimes against life includes the offenses of murder, manslaughter and involuntary manslaughter. In 2023, 14 offenses were recorded. This represents an increase of four offenses (40.00 percent) compared to the previous year. Although the clearance rate has fallen by 4.29 percentage points compared to 2022, the clearance rate remains high at 85.71% in 2023. The offense of murder was recorded three times in 2023 (2022: one murder) and the clearance rate is 100%, as in the previous year.

Crimes against sexual self-determination

In 2022, 277 crimes against sexual self-determination were recorded. In 2023, the total number of offenses against sexual self-determination increased by 4.33 percent. This means 289 crimes were recorded. The clearance rate increased by 2.37 percentage points compared to the previous year and stands at 86.85%. A total of 252 suspects were recorded. This is an increase of 9.09 percent compared to the previous year. Suspects under the age of 21 were recorded 83 times (2022: 95).

Sexual abuse of children

The number of cases of child sexual abuse was 58 in 2023. In 2022, there were 45 cases. This represents an increase of 28.89 percent. The clearance rate has fallen. While it was 95.56% in 2022, it was 86.21% in 2023.

Abuse images

In the area of child pornography, both the number of cases and the clearance rate have remained stable. In 2023, 77 cases were recorded (2022: 74 cases) and the clearance rate was 97.40% (2022: 95.95%). The high clearance rate in particular can be attributed to the establishment of an investigation team in 2020. In this investigation group, criminal investigators work together with IT specialists on cases of child pornography.

Violent crime

Violent crime covers a wide range of offenses, including murder, manslaughter, robbery, extortion, dangerous and grievous bodily harm and rape. The number of reported crimes has risen to 767 compared to the previous year (610 crimes). This represents an increase of 25.74 percent. 291 suspects were under the age of 21, which represents an increase of 43 suspects (2022: 248 suspects).
The clearance rate in this area has remained almost constant. While 74.75% of crimes in this area were solved in the previous year, the clearance rate in 2023 was 72.88%.

Street robbery

The number of recorded crimes in the area of street robbery amounted to 102 in 2023. This represents an increase of 59.38 percent compared to the previous year (64 offenses). 63 of the 78 recorded suspects were under the age of 21. In the previous year, 54 suspects were identified, 43 of whom were under the age of 21.
The clearance rate rose significantly to 62.75% compared to the previous year. In 2022, the clearance rate was 56.25%.

Dangerous and grievous bodily harm

In the area of dangerous and grievous bodily harm, a total of 485 crimes were reported in 2023. In the previous year, there were 397 offenses, which represents an increase of 22.17 percent. The clearance rate fell only slightly compared to the previous year and was 76.91% in 2023 (2022: 78.84%).

A total of 508 suspects were identified (2022: 425). This means that 83 more suspects were identified than in the previous year. 184 suspects (2022: 170) were under the age of 21. 207 suspects were not German nationals (2022: 156).

Street crime

The crimes listed under "street crime" include almost all crimes where the crime scene was recorded as "public streets, roads or squares - including public transport". Examples include sexual harassment, robbery, dangerous and grievous bodily harm as well as theft and damage to property. Street crime accounts for a large proportion of all criminal offenses. In 2023, 4,069 crimes were recorded (2022: 3,641).
The Oberhausen police officers were able to solve 17.50% of the crimes. This represents an increase of 2.01 percentage points compared to the previous year (2022: 15.49%). 705 suspects were recorded in 2023. This also represents an increase on the previous year, when 563 suspects were recorded.

Thefts

While 5,657 theft offenses were recorded in 2022, the figure for 2023 was 6,612 offenses. This represents an increase of 955 offenses. The clearance rate is 16.90 percent and has therefore fallen by 15.2 percentage points from 32.10 percent.

Burglaries

In the previous year (eleven offenses), an increase in burglaries in garages of eight offenses compared to 2021 (three offenses) was recorded. In 2023, only six cases of burglary in garages were recorded. This is the second-lowest figure in the last nine years. Burglaries in cellars and laundry rooms increased significantly, namely by 83.55 percent. In 2023, 279 cases were recorded, compared to 152 in 2022.

Residential burglaries

In contrast to the previous year, the reported cases of residential burglaries increased by 8.31 percent (2022: 349 cases, 2023: 378 cases). The clearance rate has fallen. While it was 31.52% in the previous year, this year it fell by 21.20 percentage points to 10.32%. A total of 38 suspects were identified. This means that the number is at a similar level to the previous year (36). Of these 38 suspects, five were under the age of 21 (2022: 13).

Business burglaries

The number of business burglaries fell by 20.45 percent. In the previous year, 44 business burglaries were registered, in 2023 there were only 35. The clearance rate fell from 25.00 percent in the previous year to 14.29 percent in 2023.

Pickpocketing

The number of cases in 2023 was similar to 2022. 609 cases were counted in 2023, compared to 600 in the previous year. Fortunately, there was a significant increase in the clearance rate. While it was 3.50% in 2022, it increased to 10.34% in 2023. 28 pickpockets were identified. In the previous year, the figure was 18. 26 of them were not German nationals. In 2022, a total of 14 were non-German.

Resistance against state authority

While there were 103 offences in 2022, the number rose slightly in 2023 to 109 offences. This represents an increase of six offenses (5.83 percent). The clearance rate is naturally high. It amounted to 96.33% in 2023. There was a slight decrease compared to the previous year 2022 (98.06%).

Juvenile crime

The term (child and) juvenile crime refers to all crimes committed by persons up to the age of 20. Children (up to the age of 13) are listed as suspects, even if they are not yet of criminal age. In 2023, a total of 1,904 more suspects under the age of 21 were identified (2022: 1,839). That is 65 more than in the previous year. These 1,904 suspects were responsible for a total of 2,343 crimes in 2023 and thus for 12.8% of total crime. Young people and adolescents are disproportionately involved. With a population share of only 3.7 and 2.7 percent respectively, they are responsible for 6.3 and 5.2 percent of crimes. In 2022, the 1,839 identified suspects under the age of 21 were responsible for 2,176 crimes (13.1 percent).

"Yellow Card" project

When the threat of losing their driver's license looms, adolescents prick up their ears. And that is precisely the idea behind the "Yellow Card" project. Young offenders who repeatedly come to the attention of the police should feel the consequences of their actions. If they do not show understanding, they are given a "yellow card". If the young offenders then come into conflict with the law again, they are given a "red card" - the road traffic authority then decides whether to revoke their driving license or refuse to issue it.

In 2023, a total of 22 yellow cards (2022: 27) were sent to violent offenders. Of these, one person was female in 2023. In 2022, one person was also female. 15 people were under 21 years old (2022: 18). Twelve red cards were issued and reported to the Road Traffic Office. Seven of these were under the age of 21. All twelve people who received a red card are not in possession of a driving license. However, in addition to ordering a driving license suspension and revocation of the driving license, the Road Traffic Licensing Office can also order other effective measures, such as ordering an MPU procedure or refusing an application for a driving license.