Protection Against Violence Report 2024: Fewer Trespassing and Approach Bans and Fewer Women Killed
According to the Ministry of the Interior's figures, there were about 14,600 trespassing and restraining orders last year, compared to 15,115 the year before. This would be a decrease of about 3.5 percent. In addition, about 12,500 offenders were expelled. In 2023, there were 12,681, which would mean a decrease of just under 1.5 percent.
Slight Decrease in Homicides Against Women
As for homicides against women, there were six fewer up to and including November 25th of last year compared to the same period in 2023. 28 murders were reported in 2024, with four of the victims being under 14. In the same period in 2023, 34 homicides were reported as murders, with two victims under 14. The Ministry of the Interior pointed out that the Federal Criminal Police Office records all intentional homicides against women, regardless of the perpetrators or their gender. The term femicide - defined by the Ministry of the Interior as a man killing a woman because she is a woman - is only partially applicable for criminal police analysis.
According to the Ministry of the Interior, three of the 28 victims last year were girls killed by their mothers. In four cases, a difficult health situation or being overwhelmed with care or similar was the motive for the crime.
Fewer Security Police Case Conferences Also
The number of security police case conferences also decreased: from 234 in 2023 to 193 the following year. This must be seen in connection with the decrease in offenders, according to the Ministry of the Interior. The department also pointed out that the decreases are not significant and conclusions can only be drawn after a multi-year comparison.
Protection Against Violence Expanded in Recent Years
The Ministry of the Interior pointed out that in recent years, protection against violence - legally anchored since 1997 - has been massively expanded. In 2020, the prohibition of entry was extended to include a prohibition of approach and the protection area was expanded to a radius of 100 meters, which is intended to provide security for those affected, even on their way to work or when shopping. Security police case conferences were also introduced in 2020. Since September 2021, expelled offenders are required to complete a six-hour anti-violence training. Since January 1, 2022, there is also an automatic weapons ban in the event of a prohibition of entry and approach.
The number of specially trained prevention officers in the police force has been increased from 500 to about 1,300. The Federal Criminal Police Office has a specialized office for violence protection as a pilot operation.
Karner Hopes for Improvement Through Criminal Service Reform
"Protection against violence is one of the most sensitive and also most important areas of police work. Therefore, important innovations have been introduced in recent years and the financial support of the violence protection centers has been significantly increased," emphasized Interior Minister Gerhard Karner (ÖVP). "In addition, the currently implemented reform of the criminal service strengthens the coordination of violence protection in the regions." The director of the Federal Criminal Police Office (BK), Andreas Holzer, stated that violence protection is a "central issue" in the BK.
Minister for Women Susanne Raab (ÖVP): "Protection against violence in Austria has been raised to a new level in the last five years - we have fully financed the violence protection centers and set up a women's and girls' counseling center in every political district, and their funding has been increased by a total of 153 percent since 2019." A new strategy for protection against violence has been developed for this purpose. "More than 200 representatives from all relevant organizations were involved. With this strategy, better exchange and a better overall view in violence protection is now possible," said Raab.
(APA/Red)
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