Police Advises Thousands of Children and Youth - Saxony-Anhalt's Youth Crime Prevention Program Reaches Over 20,000 At-Risk Teens

A police youth counselling service in Saxony-Anhalt has provided support to over 20,000 young people since its launch. The initiative targets children, adolescents, and young adults at risk of offending or reoffending. Its goal is to tackle the underlying causes of problematic behaviour and prevent escalation into serious crime.

Between 2021 and 2025, the service delivered more than 8,800 individual counselling sessions. An additional 2,000 consultations involved family members and professionals from other social services. Staff work across 15 fixed locations, with extra outreach points set up as needed.

The team currently consists of 21 employees, though four positions remain unfilled. Vacancies are most acute in Magdeburg, where two of three posts are empty, and in Haldensleben and Eisleben, where half the roles are unoccupied. By 1 October, three experienced caseworkers in Burg, Halle, and Bitterfeld-Wolfen will also retire. The service focuses on early intervention, offering social and educational guidance to young people suspected of offences. By addressing root causes, it aims to reduce repeat offending and help individuals reintegrate into society. However, specific figures on long-term employment success or social stability among participants are not publicly available.

The programme continues to operate despite staffing challenges and a lack of detailed outcome data. Its reach—over 20,000 individuals—highlights ongoing demand for youth crime prevention in the region. The coming months will see further changes as long-serving caseworkers leave their roles.