Germany getting tough on knife crime – DW – 08/18/2024
www.dw.com
German Interior Minister Nancy Faeser wants to further restrict the carrying of knives in public, to combat a perceived rise in knife crime. The opposition has criticized the plan as impractical.

German Interior Minister Nancy Faeser wants to further restrict the carrying of knives in public, to combat a perceived rise in knife crime. The opposition has criticized the plan as impractical.

The German government has promised tougher knife laws after the police reported a rise in the number of stabbings, especially near train stations — though the statistics remain controversial.

Interior Minister Nancy Faeser has called for the law to be changed so that only blades of 6 centimeters (2.36 inches) would be allowed to be carried in public, rather than the current 12 centimeters. An exception would be made for household knives in their original packaging. Switchblades would be banned altogether.

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The government pronouncement came after police statistics recorded a 5.6% year-on-year rise in cases of serious bodily harm involving a knife, with 8,951 incidents in 2023. The federal police, which is responsible for safety at Germany’s airports and major railway stations, also reported a significant increase in knife attacks in and around stations, with 430 in the first six months of this year.

  • clifEnglish
    15•4 months ago

    I’ve carried a knife in my pocket everyday for the past 35 years or so. It’s a useful tool both for actual work and mundane tasks like opening boxes/etc.

    A few weeks ago I was hiking near a lake and found a bird entangled in fishing line. It would’ve been very difficult to free it without some type of blade. Hell, it took almost 15 minutes even with the knife because it was so wrapped up and distressed.

    • Flying SquidMEnglish
      3•4 months ago

      Also, butterfly knives are for carrying around in your pocket and then taking out to flip around in case you think it might impress someone.

    • @[email protected]English
      2•4 months ago

      Fair enough, I didn’t think of that. What you described is the intended use for pocket knives, MacGyver style.

      What I thought of when writing my comment were kind of hunting knives. No one needs that inside an urban environment.

      • clifEnglish
        7•4 months ago

        Ah yeah, that makes sense. There’s a big difference between a 7cm folding pocket knife and a 20cm fixed blade rambo-esque hunting knife… And I can’t think of any reason to carry the latter around in a city : )

        • @Viking_HippieEnglish
          3•4 months ago

          Now I’m picturing you in a reversed version of the famous Crocodile Dundee scene with him brandishing his huge knife and you going “that’s not a tool. THIS is a tool!” as you get out your pocket knife 😁