Immigration and crime: Strobl sees direct connection

Immigration and crime: Strobl sees direct connection

Interior Minister Thomas Strobl has attributed the increasing crime in the country to economic development and strong immigration. He emphasizes that the uncontrolled admission of many refugees has led to an increase in crimes. According to the official crime statistics for the southwest in 2023, every seventh suspect was a refugee in crimes in public spaces, which corresponds to an increase of 55 percent compared to the previous year.

Strobl explains that asylum seekers and refugees are disproportionately frequently committed by crimes, which is partly due to the presence of many young men among them. However, he emphasizes that the reasons for crime are complex and are not only due to this group of people. However, the high number of migrants who have recently come into the country complicates the integration and language acquisition, which increases the risk of criminal development in young people.

In 2023, the southwest recorded an increase in registered crimes by more than eight percent to a total of 594,657 cases. The increasing crime is thus also influenced by economic development and migration. It remains a complex challenge to effectively design the integration of refugees and the prevention of crimes.