Bastian, could you please tell us more about the results of the MANEO report?
In the 2022 reporting year, we recorded slightly more cases in Berlin than in the previous year (2022: 760, 2021: 731). Of these cases, 557 cases had anti-LGBTIQ* references (2021: 527). This is also significant for us, as it meant that we were significantly more challenged in our counselling than in the previous year. On the one hand, we managed to remove around 50% of the cases that were reported to us from the dark field - i.e. those that are not known to the police. Dark field refers to both cases that we received but were not reported to the police and cases that were not reported anywhere. In other cases, those affected have told us that they have already reported the cases to the police. In addition, we were able to conduct further research via the media, as the police regularly publish case studies via their police press office.
How comparable are the results with other cities or federal states?
The Federal Criminal Police Office publishes nationwide statistics on LGBTIQ*-hostile assaults recorded by the police, but the figures are not broken down by city but by federal state. In this respect, at least for the state of Berlin, we can draw on figures that do not exist in this quantity and number in Hamburg or Bremen as city states, let alone in the whole of North Rhine-Westphalia or Bavaria.
Yes, we have much higher numbers here in Berlin! But that's not because Berlin is particularly homo-, trans* or LGBTIQ*-hostile, but because we have created very good instruments here so that people can report cases more quickly and the law enforcement authorities can effectively prosecute them. This is very well developed here in Berlin, but not yet as it should be. On the one hand, very good conditions have already been created. On the other hand, they need to be further improved.
Compared to the previous year, the current report identifies more cases that were not reported to the police. Why is that?
There are many reasons for this. Either our work has enabled us to get more people to talk to us who have never spoken to us or the police before. Or we have managed to get people to come back to us when something has happened again.
There are also many other arguments. For example, we also have victims to whom this has happened several times. At some point, they no longer want to report it because it's too much stress for them. For example, a trans* person once told me: "I can't file three or four criminal complaints every day, I'll never manage it."
"I can't file three or four criminal charges every day."
That has something to do with the conditions and not with the police. However, we are still trying to open the doors to the police, but I can also understand if some people say it's too much for them.
Why did the cooperation between MANEO and the police not take place this year?
Since 2021, the Attorney General's Office has prohibited the police from continuing to share statistical information. This concerned anonymised statistical data that we had previously exchanged with the police in order to improve our prevention work. Until then, the police had always given us a small amount of anonymised information: Date Time, location of the incident.
For example, when we realised that there had been more robberies in Tiergarten for two or three weeks, we reacted immediately and sent our local staff to Tiergarten, just like the police. We offered an information centre on site or talked to the people there. We were able to react. Or if there was a cluster of incidents somewhere, we were able to draw attention to an increased risk on social media.
Unfortunately, this exchange no longer exists because the police are not even allowed to talk to us about anonymised key information for data protection reasons after the data protection officer of the Public Prosecutor General's Office identified legal problems.
We have been able to do this exchange for years - without any problems. This enabled us to improve our prevention work every year, as we communicated a lot with each other, always in compliance with data protection. That was a matter of course for us.
Communication with the police and our mediation between the victims and the police is of course still there, but it has become much more difficult.
What types of assaults are recorded in the report?
The majority of the cases we have recorded here take place on the streets and in public - including assaults on public transport, where we have recorded a particularly high number of cases. We also recorded cases that took place on social media or the internet, such as online hate speech. There are also other regions where assaults occur, e.g. in schools and educational institutions.
Have you noticed a pattern of where and when the assaults occur most frequently?
That's hard to capture! It's a bit more at the weekend, but mainly in places or at times when LGBTIQ* people are visible in public: Cafés, bars, clubs and events. As soon as they are visible in public, there is always a high probability of provocation, insults or harassment, both during the day and at night. A large number of the assaults we record take place in Schöneberg, but also in Kreuzberg, Friedrichshain, Neukölln and Mitte. These are the main locations that we recorded again last year.
Recently, as a gay couple, my boyfriend and I were spat at on the street by a group of young men, which caused both anger and fear in me. Now I'm wondering how best to deal with this situation?
No confrontation! If the situation is already so aggressive, you should not contribute to the aggression, but call the police immediately and say: "I'm in this place right now and, as a gay man, I've been spat at by people. Please come quickly, the perpetrators are still here right now or I'm watching where they're going." The police then come and establish the identity of the perpetrators and then a criminal complaint can be filed and prosecution can be initiated against the perpetrators. This is a very effective way of making a difference and showing resistance.
At the same time, anyone who feels helpless in these situations can talk to us about it in order to strengthen themselves, improve their options for action or process these assaults. If further help is required, we can also mediate and establish contacts.
The important thing is not to let yourself down, not to accept that this is supposedly normal. It is not normal. We all have to take a stand and make it clear that we don't accept it. And that starts with all of us. Even with witnesses who have observed assaults. They have seen the perpetrators or can confirm that it happened. It is therefore important that witnesses also come forward. A few days ago, we passed on a press release from the police via social media. An hour later, a witness contacted us and said: "I was there and saw it happen. If the victim needs help, I'm available." We then re-established contact with the police.
It is important not to let yourself down, not to accept that this is supposedly normal. It is not normal.
How does MANEO contribute to the prevention of violence, what work is done here?
The violence prevention work that we primarily carry out consists of informing gay, bisexual and other MSM about risks and dangers. One of our main tasks is to address the scenes and sensitise them using a variety of information and materials. We have various topics with which we address the public with information material, including via social media. The main topics we have worked on so far are homophobic insults, homophobic robbery offences, sexual assault, domestic violence, forced marriages and knockout drugs. We have material on this and offer a lot of information that people can access and inform themselves about. We are also active on the ground and on social media. We actively work on the ground, which means that our employees are out and about in the scene every week with information stands: in crusing areas, in pubs or in front of and in clubs. However, we can only do this with the resources that are available to us.
And how can a victim of violence report an assault to you?
There are various ways to contact us. Firstly, you can call us every day - including weekends - between 5 and 7 pm. We are also available in person on weekdays from Monday to Friday at Bülowstraße 106 between 5pm and 7pm. You can also send us an e-mail or contact us via social media. There is also an online questionnaire on our homepage that you can fill out.
We have a permanent scheduling problem because we are completely overloaded. Something has to change.
What comes next? Are you working with politicians to take action?
We use the report as a basis for discussions with politicians and the city administration. Victim support is a major area of work. Our figures show how much work we have to do. But at the same time, we can also show how few resources we have available to do this work. We have a permanent problem with deadlines because we are completely overloaded. Something has to change, we need more resources. Many people need help and this help is not being offered. The mental and physical health of LGBTIQ* people is under strain. This also leads to illness if people don't get the help and support they need.
The other is to develop preventative strategies and strengthen measures: Not to stop raising awareness in schools and promoting educational work in youth centres. This must continue and must not be cut back.
These are all important arguments that we can provide to many institutions and organisations with our report. Politicians and administrations must be constantly encouraged not to neglect their efforts in the fight against LGBTIQ* hostility and misanthropy, but to continue them.
