Neglecting internal security measures is a risk that demands immediate attention
In response to a growing concern over rising violent crimes, offenses causing bodily harm, and cybercrime in North Rhine-Westphalia (NRW), SPD legal expert Sonja Bongers has called for urgent measures to enhance public safety and law enforcement capabilities.
Bongers, the Chair of the SPD City Council fraction and a member of the NRW State Parliament, expressed her concern over the increasing trend of violent and extremist-related crimes, including politically motivated offenses connected to right-wing and left-wing extremism. She emphasized the importance of strengthening police and intelligence surveillance capabilities to address these challenges effectively.
The renewed increase in cases of resistance against or assault on state authority, particularly affecting police officers, is a significant concern. Last year, 10,084 such cases were registered, marking a 1.6% increase. Bongers suggested the need for more police personnel, particularly in neighborhoods and affected districts, to ensure a stronger presence and deter such incidents.
Cybercrime is another growing concern, with the resulting damage exceeding 32 million euros last year. Bongers proposed implementing stricter security protocols and digital safeguards, including advanced authentication methods and AI-supported threat detection, to combat this rising menace. She also suggested expanding the digital presence of law enforcement agencies through online patrols, AI-assisted report filing, and an "online commissariat" for children and young people.
Bongers also highlighted the need for improving the personnel equipment of public prosecutor's offices and courts for consistent and swift prosecution. She warned of the risk of losing more children and young people to the right-wing sphere without these measures, emphasizing the importance of intensifying violence prevention in schools and youth facilities.
The crime rate in the field of internal security has significantly increased in recent years, with a 1.7% increase in recorded cases of bodily harm offenses last year and a more than 20% rise in knife attacks in 2024. However, the latest crime statistics for NRW indicate a slight decrease in overall crime but a high crime rate.
Bongers' stance underscores the urgency of enhancing judicial backing for security measures and improving cooperation among federal and state security agencies. While specific statements or detailed proposals by Sonja Bongers are not directly cited in the sources, the context of rising security concerns in NRW and related political and judicial actions underscore the need for immediate action.
For the most updated and precise statements or policy proposals from Sonja Bongers, consulting official government releases or direct communications from her office would be recommended to capture her full position and solutions in detail. This development is shocking and also an indication of growing disrespect for state institutions, making it crucial for policymakers to address these issues promptly and effectively.
- Sonja Bongers, responding to the increasing cybercrime in North Rhine-Westphalia (NRW), advocates for the implementation of stronger security protocols and digital safeguards, including advanced authentication methods and AI-supported threat detection.
- In the realm of politics, Bongers emphasizes the importance of strengthening cooperation among federal and state security agencies and enhancing judicial backing for security measures to combat growing concerns such as violent crimes, extremism, and cybercrime.
- Beyond calling for a stronger police presence in certain neighborhoods and districts to deter incidents of resistance against or assault on state authority, Bongers also stresses the necessity of improving the personnel equipment of public prosecutor's offices and courts to ensure consistent and swift prosecution.
