Criticism of the term clan crime”: stigma or reality?

Criticism of the term clan crime”: stigma or reality?

Recently, the issue of clan crime in Lower Saxony has come back into the spotlight. The police regularly report on ongoing investigations into this type of crime. A particularly critical point is the definition of the Lower Saxony Ministry of the Interior, which defines clans as criminal groups linked by family ties and common ethnic origins. This classification causes a lot of discussion and is not without controversy. Thomas Müller, an investigator with the Bremen police, expressed concerns that the term clan crime is becoming a generalized template. “People are defined as a unit based on family structure and last name,” says Müller. This raises questions, because is everyone with the last name Müller potentially criminal?

Critics of the current terminology recommend instead using terms such as “organized crime” or “criminal gangs” in order to better reflect the diversity of criminal activities and reduce stereotypical views. According to Deutschlandfunk, clan crime is widespread in Germany, especially in the federal states of North Rhine-Westphalia, Berlin and Lower Saxony. In addition to mass brawls and jewelry thefts, spectacular gold coin robberies are also part of this phenomenon.

The dimension of clan crime

In North Rhine-Westphalia, the police have systematically investigated clan crime in recent years. Interior Minister Herbert Reul emphasizes that social order is threatened by this form of crime. In 2023, around 7,000 crimes that could be attributed to clans were documented there - an increase of almost 7% compared to the previous year. In Berlin there were 1,063 assigned crimes, which accounts for around 0.2% of all crimes recorded. The appeal of discussing the topic via headlines is enormous, but there is criticism that this reporting often leads to racist stereotypes. Clans are often associated with extended families of Arab, Turkish or Kurdish origin - here is an example of the Remmo clan, which comes from the Mardin province in Turkey and came to Germany as a stateless refugee.

As numerous studies, which can also be found in contemporary research, show, only around 35,000 to 50,000 people from these families are criminals. The majority of the relatives lead a legal life. The BKA describes clans as informal social organizations with a hierarchical structure and their own norms that go beyond the German legal system. Drawing clear boundaries between clans and determining which members are actually committing crimes is extremely difficult.

Criticism of the terminology and stigmatization

While the Lower Saxony Ministry of the Interior insists that the terms are appropriate, numerous critics are calling for the entire approach to be revised. The concept of “clan markers” in Lower Saxony also leads to arbitrary assignments and stigmatization of people, which can have a negative impact on opportunities in housing or training. Alternatives such as “gang crime” or “network crime” are considered more sensible.

The topic of clan crime therefore remains very complex given the different perspectives on the scene. The balancing act between necessary security policy and the protection of individuals from improper criminalization is a challenge that politics must face in the future. The investigative authorities continue to work hard to put a stop to clan crime, while at the same time it must be remembered that a differentiated view of the manifestations is more important than blanket judgments.

Read more about the current discussion on clan crime in NDR and the detailed context Academia r_internationalen_OK_forschung_Clans_clan_crime_and_organized_crime_An_examination_from_the_perspective_of_the_study_of_organized_crime_).