ADR criticises lack of detailed statistics and transparency

Over the past two years, the ADR has asked a number of parliamentary questions to gain insight into crime statistics in Luxembourg. Members have been particularly interested in finding out how many stabbings have taken place so far this year. The response was that police and judicial databases are not designed to allow an automated search for the mode of operating.

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This information has been deemed unsatisfactory by MP Fred Keup, who addressed the issue at a press conference: "Either the Minister of Internal Security and the judiciary don't know how many knife attacks we have in a year, which is very serious in our eyes, or either they know, but don't want to communicate it". For the ADR, the lack of information therefore represents either incompetence or unwillingness on the part of the government.

In other countries, such as Germany and France, detailed crime statistics are available, noted MP Keup.

To illustrate this lack of transparency, the ADR referred to the recent incident at a football pitch in Esch-sur-Alzette, where a man threatened children and adults with a knife only to be overpowered and killed by those he was about to assault. "If this had happened abroad, there would have been a press conference the next day at the latest", the party chairman said. He believes that the police or the Minister should have informed the public about what happened as this would have prevented rumours from spreading.

In Germany or France, it is normal to communicate when "something serious happens that affects the general public", stressed MP Keup. In Luxembourg, however, authorities do not communicate, or communicate very little so as not to impede the investigation, he further noted. He believes that no investigation is influenced by the publication of statistics, which is why he criticises elected officials for not fulfilling their obligation to provide answers to MPs.