Weapons and Dangerous Items Seized in Berlin Prisons

In the past year, various weapons and dangerous items have been confiscated in Berlin's prisons, highlighting ongoing security challenges within the penal system. According to a response from the Senate to an inquiry by the AfD party, authorities reported the recovery of 18 knives or blades, among other prohibited items.

Additional items seized included nine tools or scissors, a revolver, two cartridges, a baton, a shard of glass, a brick, a metal rod, a sharpened belt, and three dart arrows. The Justice Administration emphasized the importance of strict security measures, noting that everyday objects can be misused as weapons.

Berlin's prison system currently has a capacity of 4,358 inmates, with about a quarter of them in pretrial detention. In total, approximately 9,500 individuals were held in Berlin's correctional facilities last year.

In comparison, the volume of dangerous items discovered at the entrances of courts is substantial. At the large criminal court in Moabit alone, security checks on visitors led to the confiscation of 1,543 cutting and stabbing weapons, along with an additional 6,614 items deemed hazardous.

Similar patterns were observed at various district courts and the chamber court, where hundreds of knives were found, in addition to many dangerous tools, numerous containers of irritants or pepper spray, scissors, and several firearms. The situation underscores the ongoing efforts required to maintain safety and order within both correctional facilities and judicial environments.