Police report rising aggression against officers in Lower Austria

Police in Lower Austria are reporting a general rise in aggression against officers, according to ORF. Recent incidents include a teenager who kicked an officer in the face in St. Pölten and a man who injured three officers while resisting an order to leave.

Police spokesman Johann Baumschlager attributed the increase in cases partly to alcohol and drug use. He said some people were in a psychological state of crisis, lost control of their behaviour and viewed police intervention as a personal attack.

Violence injured 1,132 police officers across Austria in 2024, compared with 1,463 in the previous year, according to the Interior Ministry. Three officers were also recently attacked and injured while responding to a dangerous-threat case in St. Pölten, Baumschlager said. The suspect had to be arrested and resisted forcefully.

Suspects are getting younger

The number of suspects under 18 has risen by 75 percent. Among children aged 10 to 14, who are below the age of criminal responsibility, the increase over the past 20 years was 137 percent. However, police say those who behave aggressively towards officers are generally older.

In another recent incident in St. Pölten, a teenager strongly resisted police intervention while apparently in a psychological state of crisis and kicked an officer in the face, Baumschlager said. Police officers suffer many injuries during operations, including serious injuries that force some to leave the service, he added.

Police are increasingly using body cameras to protect officers. The recordings document operations, can be reviewed afterwards and can serve as evidence in court. Training exercises also deliberately recreate such scenarios to prepare and protect officers.