VIENNA, Austria — Austria’s Interior Minister Gerhard Karner on Wednesday called for tougher measures against rising youth crime, saying even children below the age of criminal responsibility must face clear consequences under Austrian law, according to ORF News.
Speaking on Austria’s Ö1 Morning Journal, Karner said the country was witnessing an alarming rise in juvenile offenses, particularly among children aged 10 to 14, whose involvement in reported crimes has nearly doubled since 2021. Official crime statistics released this year show youth crime rose by 9.4 percent compared with the previous year.
The minister said repeat offenders, including those below the legal age for criminal prosecution, should be subject to stronger restrictions, including temporary confinement measures similar to house arrest or supervised detention facilities.
“There must be consequences for repeat offenders,” Karner said, adding that parents would also be expected to take responsibility.
The issue has become increasingly prominent in Austria’s domestic political debate after police data showed a steep rise in offenses involving very young suspects. According to official figures, around 12,000 reports involved suspects aged 10 to 14 in 2024, nearly twice the level recorded a few years earlier.
Karner also highlighted concerns over migration and asylum, maintaining his government’s strict position on border controls and family reunification.
He pointed to new European Union asylum rules that, he said, give Austria more room to tighten procedures. A key part of that plan is the creation of a dedicated border terminal at Vienna’s Schwechat Airport to process asylum cases through fast-track procedures. The new facility is expected to play a central role in implementing the EU migration pact.
On family reunification, Karner said recent restrictions had sharply reduced arrivals, arguing that the move had eased pressure on schools and youth services that had been under strain.
The minister’s remarks come as immigration and public security remain central issues in Austria’s political landscape, with the government under growing pressure to respond to both rising crime figures and migration-related concerns.
