taz.de
Berlin Police Database Raises Concerns Over Clan Crime Focus
Berlin police maintain a database of 7,208 individuals from Arabic-speaking communities, far exceeding the low number of clan crime suspects (0.2% of total crime), raising concerns about potential discrimination and misallocation of resources.
- How does the Berlin police justify the inclusion of individuals not directly involved in clan crime within their database, and what are the potential legal and ethical concerns?
- The Berlin police's database, containing 7,208 individuals from Arabic-speaking communities, far exceeds the number of clan crime suspects. This raises concerns about the database's scope and potential for discriminatory profiling, particularly as individuals unrelated to clan crime may be included due to factors like family ties or similar surnames.
- What are the potential long-term consequences of maintaining this database, particularly considering its impact on community relations and resource allocation for crime prevention?
- The Berlin police database highlights a disconnect between the actual scale of clan crime and the extensive data collection targeting individuals from Arabic-speaking communities. This raises concerns about the potential for misallocation of resources and the impact on the affected communities. The lack of regular review and the inclusion of individuals without criminal charges merit further investigation.
- What is the discrepancy between the number of individuals in the Berlin police database of Arabic-speaking communities and the actual number of clan crime suspects, and what are the implications of this?
- Clankriminalität", or clan crime, accounts for only 0.2% of all recorded crimes in Berlin, with a few hundred suspects annually. Yet, Berlin police maintain a database of 7,208 individuals from Arabic-speaking communities, raising concerns about potential discrimination. The police justify this by stating that the database tracks individuals connected to clan crime investigations, even those not involved in criminal activity.
Cognitive Concepts
Framing Bias
The article frames the story around the significant discrepancy between the number of individuals in the police database (7,208) and the low number of suspects involved in clan-related crime. This framing emphasizes the potential for overreach and discrimination.
Language Bias
The article uses the term "Clankriminalität" which translates to 'clan criminality', a term that carries a negative connotation and could be seen as biased. More neutral terms could include 'organized crime' or 'criminal activity within certain groups'. The phrase 'entgleiste Debatte' (derailled debate) is also potentially loaded.
Bias by Omission
The article omits details about the criteria used to include individuals in the police database. It also doesn't explain the process for removing individuals from the database, even those acquitted by courts. The lack of transparency around these processes raises concerns about potential bias and due process.
False Dichotomy
The article doesn't present a false dichotomy, but it highlights the discrepancy between the small percentage of crime attributed to 'clan criminality' and the large number of individuals in the police database, implicitly suggesting a problem with the database's scope.
Sustainable Development Goals
The article highlights the Berlin police maintaining a database of 7,208 individuals from Arab-speaking backgrounds, including those not suspected of crimes. This raises concerns about potential discrimination and disproportionate targeting, undermining fair justice and the rule of law. The practice of including individuals based on family ties or similar surnames, without sufficient justification, violates principles of due process and equal treatment under the law. The lack of transparency and independent oversight further exacerbates these concerns.