Thematic Focus: The Myth of “Clan Crime”

The Myth of “Clan Crime“
by Tom Jennissen und Louisa Zech

The article provides an introduction to the current main topic “clan crime“. The discourse on “clan crime“ leads to racist control practices and the weakening of constitutional principles. It serves to project crime onto the supposedly “foreign” and is politically exploited.

The Administrative Approach
by Felix Rauls

The article sheds light on the administrative approach taken by the authorities against so-called clans. The approach, which has also been used against alleged biker crime, poses numerous legal problems. It does so, in particular, because it casts entire population groups in a criminal light and thus stigmatizes them. The results of the raids cannot be reconciled with the discourse of serious criminal activities.

General Suspicion
by Guillermo Ruiz and Tobias von Borcke

The discourse about and the police practice of prosecuting so-called clan crime not only discriminate against and stigmatize “Arab families”, but also affect Sinti and Roma. This article first gives a historical outline of antiziganist traditions in the German police force. Subsequently, con­necting lines between the so-called “clan crime” and antiziganist police practice are drawn using examples.

“Clan Crime”: From Everyday Crime to Enemies of the State
an Interview with Ulrich von Klinggräff (by Benjamin Derin)

So called clan crime (“Clankriminalität”) – an ethnicized construct refer­ring to alleged organized crime families of Arab migrant back­grounds in Germany – has been of increasing significance in the public debate on crime and society. Defense attorney Ulrich von Klinggräff talks about its implications in the criminal justice system.

Police Reports on “Clan Crime “ – Ambiguous Definitions, Evident Racisms
by Michèle Winkler and Levi Sauer

For some years now, police reports on so-called „clan crime“ have been presented with great fanfare. Figures published in these reports domi­nate the headlines, not only in the tabloids. Yet little attention is paid to how these figures are obtained and which additional information is in­cluded in the reports. This would be crucial since the central claims of police reports on „clan crime“ differ significantly from those of a media discourse that is nonetheless sustained by police figures, and figures rely centrally on ethnic categorizations.

Racist Raids – How Zero Tolerance in Neukölln Promotes Displacement
by Melly Amira and Jorinde Schulz

The inflammatory term of “clan crime” launched by right-wing politi­cians fuels a racist debate that legitimizes brutal and harassing raids by police and other authorities. This has far-reaching consequences for the people and places involved. This report from Neukölln shows how Ber­lin’s new version of New York’s authoritarian zero tolerance policing generates stigmatization, constant repression, and displacement from (post)­migrant spaces, which local anti-racist and urban activists as well as tradespeople are contesting.

Clan Crime and Migration Law
by Karsten Lauber

The history of clan crime is essentially a history of West German immi­gration law. The focus of this article is on the so-called Duldung (“tole­ration” of residency) and the work permit for non-german workers. The related hypothesis is: The administration contributes to the emergence of “clan crime” by setting its own norms and exercising its own dis­cre­tion in the field of migration law.

Non-thematic Contributions

The Transnational Deportation Regime
by Reta Barfuss and Charlotte Vöhl

European migration control isn’t only exercised at the European external borders but reaches far beyond geographical Europe. Using Morocco and Algeria as examples, the article sheds light on the deportation practices of third countries and their cooperation with the EU.

Seemingly Banal – Everyday Police Communication on Twitter
by Johanna Blumbach, Fabian de Hair, Ina Eberling and Sigrid Richolt

German police authorities have been increasingly present on social me­dia platforms such as Twitter. In addition to factual information, the po­lice also tweet everyday anecdotes. The article analyzes how police com­mu­nicate a platform-specific “normality” of everyday police life. This creates a new mediatized image of the police and relationship to society.

Value and Human Rights Training for Police Officers?
by Emanuel John and Nanina Marika Sturm

Right-wing extremist ideas within the police force as well as police chat groups in which anti-human or racist slogans, codes and symbols are disseminated have forced political leaders to take action. In North Rhine-Westphalia, the Ministry of the Interior made recommendations how to prevent such attitudes and behavior within the police. Based on a critical appraisal of the recommendations, the article makes suggestions for changes in police training.