Amongst all of the 'there is no significant increase in crime in Germany' stories.....I got reminded this morning via German commercial news of this odd phenomenon that exists, where the state police groups (all sixteen of them) are now worried about crime families or crime clans (mafia groups).
All sixteen Interior Ministers (the ones responsible for safety and security in each German state) have taken the position of this weekend conference that this organized crime business has grown beyond their capability, and they need unique tools or capabilities to take them on. Yes, they are asking the German federal government to construct more 'powers' that might be used to invade privacy.
Where the 'business' of crime is going? Most cops will agree now that drug trafficking has expanded. They also suggest that gang chatter or deals are being done a great deal in hookah bars. There's a belief that betting shops (totally legal in Germany) are hooked up with the crime clans. Social welfare fraud? There's ample proof that some gangs have engaged in this as well. Money-laundering? It's reached a level where some suspicion exists that housing units (apartment buildings) were built or bought with dirty money, and clean monthly rent money flows back into the gang's pocket. Human smuggling? There's various gangs which will indulge in the trade. Illegal cigarette importation? Since tobacco taxes expanded twenty years ago.....there's been a continual effort to bring untaxed tobacco into the country.
How much is this problem rated among the public? I would suggest that it's moved up to the top five issues and ranks up there with welfare reform, or public infrastructure complaints. But resolving this? Other than hiring additional cops and swearing that there is no significant rise in crime (via public TV news)....there's no real discussion going on.
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