Serious rise in child crimes within Austria
Austria is witnessing a significant rise in juvenile crime rates, especially among children aged 10 to 14 years. In March 2024, a special task force was established to combat youth crimes under the direction of Interior Minister Gerhard Karner (ÖVP), led by Dieter Zivan. The reason for this move was the sharp increase in the number of reports filed against this age group, which rose from about 5,160 reports in 2015 to over 12,000 last year.
It is striking that the number of reports against Syrian minors has increased significantly, from about 25 reports in 2015 to 1,000 reports in 2024. The Minister of Interior stated that addressing this phenomenon requires a set of measures, including suspending family reunification and establishing specialized teams. Between March 2024 and the end of September 2025, 10,574 criminal reports were recorded, including 2,687 against minors, and 1,315 individuals were arrested, including 136 minors. The police also conducted about 75,000 personal searches and seized nearly 200 weapons.
In a move aimed at reducing the influx of minors to Austria, family reunification has been suspended in July 2025. The Ministry of the Interior is currently considering a mechanism to restrict this procedure in the future, allowing only family members who are able to integrate into Austrian society to come.
The government's plan includes other measures, such as banning the carrying of knives, increasing police powers, and requiring minors involved in crimes to attend investigations with their guardians, in addition to mandatory meetings between the police, care institutions, schools, and judicial authorities to monitor cases of minors repeatedly involved in violent acts.
In the future, facilities similar to prisons are set to be established to house minors who commit serious and repeated crimes. The legal framework for this is being prepared at the Ministry of Justice, so that these individuals are not allowed to leave these facilities, and a strict daily regime is enforced that punishes those who violate it.