The authorities in Germany are contemplating a ban on public possession of knives with blades extending over 2.4 inches. This proposed legislation corresponds with a growing incidence of stabbing crimes, an issue which some attribute to illegal immigrants residing in the country. German Interior Minister, Nancy Faeser, has given indications that she and her team will ‘introduce suitable changes to the weapons law’ to address this rising trend in knife assaults.
In Faeser’s opinion, a knife of about 2.4 inches, or 6.6 centimeters, is ‘sufficient for the purposes of everyday life’. Alongside this, she supports implementing a complete prohibition on switchblade knives across the nation. Germany does enforce existing laws which prevent the public from carrying knives with blades exceeding 4.7 inches.
The proposition of tightening the already robust knife regulations in Germany stems from the fact that cases of stabbings have risen by almost 6% compared to the preceding year, and current data suggests that this figure continues to escalate. As a comparative point, jurisdictions such as New York City, in the United States, forbid the public possession of knives, hidden or revealed, that have a blade length of more than 4 inches. Exceptions are made for specific professions such as emergency medical technicians and military personnel.
While not every type of knife is illegal, the legality of certain knives can depend on circumstances surrounding their use or possession. For instance, in New York City, switchblades, ballistic knives, and metal knuckle knives are considered illegal contraband. During the first six months of 2024, German police reported higher incidences of stabbing cases compared to the previous year, with particular hotspots around railway stations according to DPA International.
These developments occur amidst the backdrop of increasing knife-related violence in the United Kingdom. A notable incident took place on July 29 at a Taylor Swift themed dance workshop in Southport, where eight people were stabbed. Reported incidents involving stabbings in Britain have seen a steady growth since 2020.
There is growing concern in Germany owing to a surge in aggression that correlates with the arrival of young males immigrating from Africa and the Middle East. Weeks without stabbing cases are becoming increasingly uncommon, as highlighted in a report from Die Welt. The National Pulse has pointed out, albeit without citing explicit sources, that illegal immigrants constitute almost 60 percent of the offenders in violent crimes in Germany.
However, examining the German Police report from 2023, it was observed that individuals born in Germany were responsible for 58.51 percent of violent offenses. Meanwhile, the United Kingdom experienced a wave of anti-immigrant protests following the sharp spike in stabbings on July 29; one conspicuous event took place near a mosque.
Violent demonstrations further escalated when protesters threw beer cans, bottles, and flares near the residence of Prime Minister Starmer the subsequent day. The person implicated in these stabbings, reportedly, is a 17-year-old who is the child of immigrants from Rwanda and is presently in police custody.
Over the last year, there has been a marked increase in the number of violent acts instigated by migrants throughout Europe. This has led to prominent conservatives, like Prime Minister Orban of Hungary, voicing the need for stricter immigration policies as a means to bolster public safety. Concurrently, Faeser has proposed that local German jurisdictions should establish zones where carrying guns or knives is strictly prohibited.
Dissenters argue that such a policy would be futile and unlikely to yield any concrete benefits. Germany has previously endeavored to enforce ‘no-knife’ zones in different parts of the country, but the effectiveness of such regulations in preventing crime has proven to be minimal.
Criminologist Elena Rausch, speaking to Apollo News, iterated the ineffectiveness of such a ban, stating, ‘If an individual is intent on carrying out an extremist act, they understand that it is not permissible; hence, a weapon-free zone carries little consequence.’ Despite the conflicting viewpoints, the German government remains determined to address this significant issue and ensure public safety.