Security debate: FPÖ calls for drastic measures against youth crime

Security debate: FPÖ calls for drastic measures against youth crime

Österreich - Today is April 29, 2025. In Austria, the current debate about crime and security ensures high political waves. FPÖ MP Hannes Amesbauer calls for a "large-scale deportation offensive" to increase security in the country. He argues that mass immigration from Islamic countries had resulted in an increase in crime and the risk of terrorism. In this context, various political actors criticize both the asylum policy of the black and green federal government as well as the continued increasing youth crime.

Interior Minister Gerhard Karner informed about the youth crime group, which is established in March, which is active nationwide. This is intended to target the increase in youth crime and includes, among other things, increased border controls. These measures seem to have an effect: 4,300 people were deported from January to April 2023.

political reactions

Amesbauer has moved several criminal incidents since 2024 and specifically called for measures against youth crime and a deportation offensive towards Afghanistan and Syria. Karner confirmed the increase in youth crime and explained that the operational group has already implemented measures. Furthermore, he announced the introduction of a ban on the Messer carrier law in order to effectively combat gang crime.

The political reactions differ: ÖVP MP Christian Stocker criticized the FPÖ for using crimes for political purposes and not offering any solutions in matter. The SPÖ calls for more staff in the police and the judiciary, while at the same time considering lowering the age of punishment as not expedient. Greens MEP relate to prevention and integration work and also reject the reduction in age.

crime statistics and security reports

The police crime statistics (PKS) forms the basis for analyzing criminal events in Austria. According to the information from the Federal Criminal Police Office, the PKS has been continuously developed since 2001 and only represents the crimes reported to the police. Dark field and courses are not taken into account. These statistics serve the strategic criminal police planning and is intended to help combat crime effectively.

Some of the most important aspects of the PKS include adaptation to legal changes and social phenomena. Annual security reports created by the Federal Ministry of the Interior (BMI) and the Federal Ministry of Justice (BMJ) offer detailed insights into criminal policy developments and enable a well -founded analysis of the security situation in Austria.

The topics that are taken up in the political discussion and the data of the police crime statistics illustrate the complexity of the current security situation in Austria and the need for action of the political actors. Despite the different views of the measures to combat crime, there is a broad consensus to act.

For further information on the current events in Austrian politics and security situation, we refer to the reports of steiermark.orf.at , parlament.gv.at as well as bundeskriminalamt .