On the decline in Switzerland: youth violence
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Over the past five years there has been a significant decline in violent as well as non-violent crimes among youths, according to the Swiss Federal Statistical Office (FSO).
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On Monday, the FSO reported that between 2009 and 2014, there was a 44% drop in the number of people aged 10-17 accused of a violent crime. Police recorded 2,466 violent offences in 2014, with 83% of them committed by boys.
Crime in general among youths is on the decline. In 2009, police booked 14,760 youths as perpetrators; in 2014 it was 8,907 – reflecting a drop of 40% among Swiss minors and a drop of 45% among young foreigners. The decline among youths from the former Yugoslavia and Turkey was especially noticeable, according to the FSO reportExternal link (in German).
Last year, assaults accounted for 23% of criminal activity among youths, followed by assault leading to bodily harm (18%), threats (16%), involvement in an attack (11%), robbery (8%), involvement in a fight (7%) and “other crimes” (17%).
Over the period measured, about 40% of the crimes took place on weekends between 10pm and 2am. During the week, the critical period was from 3pm-6pm.
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