The Federal Ministry of the Interior is examining a proposal to reverse the burden of proof in the fight against clan crime

The Federal Ministry of the Interior is examining a proposal to reverse the burden of proof in the fight against clan crime

Federal Ministry of the Interior is examining a proposal to combat clan crime

The Federal Ministry of the Interior plans to take a closer look at the proposal from Berlin Interior Senator Iris Spranger (SPD) to combat clan crime. Spranger had suggested introducing a reversal of the burden of proof. A spokesman for the ministry of Nancy Faeser (SPD) explained that the proposal would be examined and discussed as part of its own strategy to combat organized crime.

When publishing the police “Clan Crime Situation Report 2022” from the Berlin State Criminal Police Office (LKA), Spranger called for a legal reversal of the burden of proof. In concrete terms, this means that suspects must prove that they acquired their assets legally. So far, the burden of proof lies with the law enforcement authorities.

The Senator for the Interior sees this proposal as an important instrument for combating organized crime and is based on the example of the fight against the mafia in Italy. She would like to promote this idea together with her colleagues.

Spranger argues that the current legal options for confiscating illegally acquired assets from real estate or luxury cars have reached their limits. North Rhine-Westphalia's Interior Minister Herbert Reul (CDU) reacted positively to the proposal from Berlin. He emphasized the need to get hold of big money and to exhaust all legal options.

It remains to be seen how the Federal Ministry of the Interior will react to the proposal and what legal changes could possibly follow. Combating clan crime is a central concern of German security policy, and there is great interest in how the debate will develop further.