/ Social responsibility

Working Together Against Violence: Evaluation Meeting with Law Enforcement Agencies

On August 18, 2026, the Central Office for Hate Crimes hosted a meeting with representatives of the Berlin Soccer Association (BFV), the Berlin Public Prosecutor’s Office, and the Berlin District Attorney’s Office to evaluate progress to date and further develop cooperation. The meeting was also attended by the heads of the participating law enforcement agencies, as well as BFV President Bernd Schultz and Vice President for Legal Affairs Dirk Zimmermann.

In order to respond more effectively and forcefully to serious crimes motivated by prejudice and classified as “hate crimes” in connection with soccer matches, the Berlin Public Prosecutor’s Office and the BFV signed a cooperation agreement as early as May 30, 2024. This agreement also provides for the Berlin Public Prosecutor’s Office to support measures aimed at preventing violence, protecting children and youth, and combating antisemitism and all forms of group-focused hostility.

In January 2026, law enforcement agencies expanded their cooperation with the BFV. The Berlin Public Prosecutor’s Office and the BFV signed another cooperation agreement for this purpose. The goal is to combat psychological and physical violence in connection with soccer matches, prevent lawless zones, and respond more effectively and forcefully to serious crimes in this area. As a result, three points of contact have also been designated within the Berlin Public Prosecutor’s Office for such cases, which are not handled by the Berlin District Public Prosecutor’s Office due to the age of the accused.

34 Preliminary Investigations Based on the Cooperation

The cooperation agreements are intended to ensure that such incidents, of which the BFV becomes aware, are reported to Berlin’s law enforcement authorities more quickly and, with virtually no exceptions, in the future.

Based on the cooperation agreement with the BFV, the Berlin Public Prosecutor’s Office has so far initiated 34 preliminary investigations and filed six indictments. Two cases involving racist or anti-Semitic offenses have been conclusively resolved with fines.

The important issue of violence in sports has been on the Berlin Public Prosecutor’s Office’s agenda for just over half a year. Nevertheless, in this short time, more than 160 cases—mostly involving Berlin amateur soccer—have already been consolidated into a special task force. Seventeen cases have resulted in an indictment or a summary penalty order. Four cases have ended with a final conviction, and one case was dismissed on condition of payment.

This demonstrates that the issue is highly topical and requires consistent criminal prosecution. Law enforcement agencies consider themselves well-equipped to continue their committed efforts to combat hate crimes, prejudice-motivated crimes, and psychological and physical violence in sports, and to prevent lawless zones.

Following the example of this successful pilot project, many additional cooperation agreements have been established between law enforcement agencies and Berlin sports associations (Badminton Association of Berlin-Brandenburg e.V., Berlin Ice Sports Association e.V., Berlin Fencing Association e.V., Berlin Soccer Association e.V., Berlin Hockey Association e.V., Berlin Karate Association e.V., Berlin Swimming Association e.V., Judo Association Berlin e.V., and Berlin State Rowing Association e.V.) have been concluded.

Kategorien: Social responsibility

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