Hamburg, December 13 – More than 3,400 arrest warrants issued by Hamburg law enforcement authorities remain unexecuted, according to a recent response from the Senate to a written minor inquiry from the AfD parliamentary group. Specifically, 3,419 individuals sought by warrant have not yet been apprehended. Of these, 993 warrants were issued at least three years ago, while another 1,301 are between one and three years old.
Reasons for Unexecuted Warrants
The Senate’s response, obtained by the German Press Agency, explains the challenges in executing these warrants. “The arrest warrants are generally not yet executed because individuals cannot be found at known addresses, their whereabouts are unknown, meaning it is also not known whether they are still in the Federal Republic of Germany, and they have not been encountered during police control measures since the warrant was issued,” the Senate stated.
Decreasing Trend in Open Warrants
Despite the high number, the total count of open arrest warrants has decreased over the past two years. On January 1, 2024, there were 3,793 open warrants, which dropped to 3,560 by January 1 of this year, and now stands at 3,419.
Breakdown of Offenses
The unexecuted warrants cover a range of offenses. According to the Senate’s response:
- Violent Crimes: 434 warrants, including 98 for homicides and 112 for dangerous and grievous bodily harm.
- Sexual Offenses: 89 warrants.
- Property Crimes: 1,386 warrants, encompassing embezzlement and extortion.
Alias Names and Nationalities of Fugitives
A significant number of those sought, 1,830 individuals, have entries for different personal details, commonly known as alias names. Six of the wanted individuals are marked as repeat offenders.
Regarding nationalities, the breakdown is as follows:
- German Citizens: 445 individuals.
- EU Foreigners: 889 individuals.
- Third-Country Nationals: 2,085 individuals.
Purpose of Arrest Warrants
The majority of the warrants, 2,553, are for the enforcement of sentences following a conviction. Another 859 individuals are sought for pre-trial detention. In seven cases, placement in a closed institution has been ordered.
AfD Calls for Action
Dirk Nockemann, chairman of the AfD parliamentary group, views these figures as a “systematic failure of control.” He described it as a “shadow realm of criminals, in which the Senate stumbles blindly through the darkness and sacrifices Hamburg’s security.” Nockemann criticized the red-green coalition for allowing dangerous criminals to go into hiding and ignoring the dangers. He called for “a special unit, full transparency, and prioritized manhunts to break this chaos.”
Further Developments and Context
The issue of unexecuted arrest warrants highlights ongoing challenges in law enforcement and public safety in Hamburg. The Senate’s acknowledgment of the problem, along with the slight decrease in overall numbers, suggests some efforts are being made, but the significant backlog underscores the complexity of apprehending individuals who actively evade authorities. The call for a specialized unit and increased transparency by the AfD reflects a growing demand for more effective measures to address this issue and ensure public safety.
The discussion around unexecuted warrants is part of broader conversations about crime, public security, and the effectiveness of judicial processes within the city-state of Hamburg. It touches upon themes such as the capacity of law enforcement, the challenges of tracking individuals with multiple identities, and international cooperation in apprehending fugitives. The political debate surrounding these figures is likely to continue as authorities seek to balance civil liberties with the imperative of bringing convicted criminals and those awaiting trial to justice.
Source: https://www.tageblatt.de/Nachrichten/Tausende-Hamburger-Haftbefehle-nicht-vollstreckt-707093.html
