Cases of serious violence among young people have experienced a worrying increase for seven years in Switzerland.Image: Shutterstock / Unsplash, montage watson
The convictions for aggravated violence are reaching a record level among young people in Switzerland. There are profound transformations in this population category.
15.07.2025, 16:4815.07.2025, 16:48
Andreas Maurer / CH media
Let’s start with the good news: violence among young people, that is to say the number of convictions for acts of light violence in serious, remains stable, even slightly.
But to look more closely, we discover another trend. The number of serious crimes has almost tripled in seven years. In 2024, he reached his highest value since the start of the statistics of criminal judgments 25 years ago: 125 young people were convicted of aggravated violence. These are mainly severe bodily lesions. The level of injury of the victims is such that it requires prolonged hospitalization.
The rapes arrive in second position. They increased last year, because the debate on the tightening of criminal law in this area undoubtedly prompted more women to file a complaint. But, even without that, the phenomenon would have crossed new thresholds.
What to think of this statistic?
It is very reliable. Because, contrary to the statistics of crime, that of criminal convictions does not identify the suspects, but the condemned. The facts are therefore proven. In addition, the most serious cases depend less on denunciation behavior than the lightest.
A person who only feels “threatened” will not necessarily file a complaint. This tolerance can evolve over time. On the other hand, crimes of serious violence are more official. A serious injured man admitted to the hospital will inevitably trigger a police intervention.
Why is this phenomenon increasing?
Because of a drop in inhibition thresholds. Dirk Baier, researcher on this theme, advances three explanations:
“First, the idea of the” law of the strongest “is again. Then, young people are organizing more and more in bands, in which violence is spreading more. Finally, the school has lost its normative force, this is reflected in the increase in absenteeism. ”
These reasons in principle apply to all young people, but very few of them really fall into violence. Baier adds:
“These developments accumulate in the end in a few people, who, consequently, become violent”
Violence with a knife increases.Image: Depositphotos / Highwaystarz
Is there a typical profile?
The problem is above all masculine. 96% of the authors are men. Most of them are over 16 years old. Girls are making more and more crimes of light violence, but almost never serious acts.
Is this a problem of foreigners?
In 2024, a young violent offender in two did not hold a white cross passport. This proportion has not varied in recent years. Swiss and foreigners are therefore responsible for the increase in the increase.
However, the latter remain clearly overrepresented, considering that their share in the resident population is slightly exceeding 25%. Most of the foreign offenders have a residence permit and are therefore part of the resident population.
What observation?
Crime only affects 1% of young people. And even less in serious cases: only one in 6000 young people commits such an act. The Dick Baier researcher therefore sees no brutalization of youth:
“We are rather dealing with a very limited, but growing group, of young men who are not socialized enough and who commit serious violence.”
(Translated from German by Valentine Zenker)
News in Switzerland is here
“What justifies such violence?” These images shock in Spain
Video: twitter
This could also interest you:
The convictions for aggravated violence are reaching a record level among young people in Switzerland. There are profound transformations in this population category.