On behalf of the Lower Saxony State Police Headquarters, the Lower Saxony State Criminal Police Office worked together with the Osnabrück Police Department to develop the nationwide campaign against hate crime. In the coming week (April 25th to 29th, 2022), all Lower Saxony police social media channels will be raising awareness of the phenomenon of hate crime. At the same time, a poster campaign in the cities of Osnabrück, Hanover, Oldenburg, Braunschweig, Lüneburg and Göttingen is also raising awareness of the important topic in the analogue world.
“The Lower Saxony State Criminal Police Office has recorded an increase in hate crime crimes in recent years. When people in the digital space agitate uninhibitedly, trivialize, legitimize or even glorify hatred and violence, then this is a dangerous breeding ground for radicalization, which can even lead to serious crimes. The Lower Saxony police are countering this with the campaign against hate crime.”
LKA President Friedo de Vries
“Hate and agitation cannot be excused on social networks or anywhere else in our society. The Internet in particular is not a legal vacuum! Anyone who spreads, supports or spreads 'hate speech' must expect immediate criminal consequences. Especially in these fragile and unsettling times, some groups and individuals are trying to use the Internet as a platform and high-pressure outlet for their anger, hatred and twisted ideological ideas. The security authorities are taking consistent action against this. With the campaign against hate crime, we are supporting the victims of such attacks and sending a clear signal against 'hate speech'.”
Lower Saxony Minister for the Interior and Sport, Boris Pistorius
Given the growing quality and quantity of prejudice-driven crime, combating it represents an additional challenge for the security authorities. The increasing aggression and crimes observed have a negative impact on the population's sense of security and threaten social cohesion. On the Internet, especially on social media, there is an increasing brutalization of language and a pronounced verbal radicalism.
“The Internet is not the Wild West. It's frightening how insulting, hurtful and contemptuous some users communicate - mostly out of anonymity. We as the police are also increasingly feeling this. A very clear message: The Internet is not a legal vacuum – crimes will be consistently prosecuted.”
Michael Maßmann, President of the Osnabrück Police Department
People are increasingly expressing themselves generally, but especially towards socially and politically active people, in a way that can be relevant to criminal law and is characterized by highly aggressive behavior, intimidation and threats of criminal offenses.
In 2020, hate crime crimes increased nationwide with 10,240 cases compared to 2019 (8,585). This trend could also be observed in Lower Saxony. A total of 713 hate crime cases were recorded in 2020. That was 54 more cases than in the previous year and represents an increase of 8.19%. Hate postings on the internet and via messenger services reached a new high in 2020 with 317 cases compared to the previous year (2019: 284). This represents an increase of 11.62%.
“Surely you can still say that!?”
The police social media teams encounter these and similar comments almost every day. With the large-scale campaign against hate crime, the Lower Saxony police want to make it clear: the Internet is not a legal vacuum. Hate is not an opinion! Videos and posts that outline real insults and threats are intended to show what consequences can follow. The campaign is intended to raise awareness, educate and, above all, make clear the difference between opinion and crime.
At the same time, the police want to call on you: Don't look away, report it! Illegal “postings” on social media platforms must be consistently prosecuted instead of just being deleted. Without a complaint or witness statement, perpetrators get away with no punishment.
With every trial, with every perpetrator who is convicted, there is also a deterrent effect. Therefore, relevant posts should be displayed.
You can file a criminal complaint at any police station or public prosecutor's office:
You might also be interested in: Racist attack on refugee accommodation
Source: Lower Saxony Police / Press information , campaign homepage of the LKA Lower Saxony
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