In the course of the entrance controls at around 50 dishes and public prosecutors in Saxony 2024 have discovered significantly more knives in 2024. In doing so, tools of this type rated as weapons almost doubled in the second half of the year – from 39 to 77. However, the overall trend upwards has not continued overall. “There could therefore be a summit,” said a spokesman for the Ministry of Justice.
While the finds of irritant sprays remained almost the same, the amount of other knives seized by 217 and that of the other dangerous objects around 319. In total, the officers or litigant -participants took 20,593 dangerous and possibly usable everyday objects – eleven less than 2023. In most cases, the owners also received them back – only with illegal possessions.
Especially knives and irritant sprays
Also in 2024, knives made of clothing or bags came to light, a total of 7623 and 171 more than 2023. Among them were 116 knives within the meaning of the Weapons Act. The inspectors also revealed less and other dangerous objects with 837 stimulus sprays 316. So nail files or shears, stick umbrellas, glass bottles are kept and given again when leaving the building, but also chains with large carabiners, corkscrews or selfie sticks.
Tightening the controls to murder in the courtroom
After the violent death of a witness in 2009 in the Dresden district court, the Free State had invested several million euros in the safety of the courts and also reinforced access controls – including mobile handbonds, locks and more staff. The Egyptian Marwa El-Sherbini had been stabbed by the defendant in an appeal hearing for xenophobia. The bloody deed had triggered horror nationwide, protests in the Islamic world and a debate about security in courts.
Since then, it has been constantly checked at regional courts and judicial centers, sporadically at smaller district courts, also with metal detectors. The security concept for courts and public prosecutors has been revised and expanded, the law enforcement officer service was strengthened and better equipped.
© dpa-infocom, dpa: 250415-930-440391/1
