The proposed incentive aims to make the exchange worthwhile: the most popular pocket knife costs around €17, while an annual Netflix subscription is valued at €170.
Berlin’s Charité hospital reported that the number of patients treated for stab wounds this year has already reached 50 to 55, a figure typically seen over an entire year.
This initiative comes as knife crime surges in Germany, with police statistics revealing nearly 13,844 knife attacks last year, a stark increase from the 10,131 incidents recorded the previous year
In response to high-profile knife violence, politicians across the spectrum have called for stricter control over knife possession in public spaces. Germany already enforces stringent regulations on carrying knives in public, with blades longer than 12 cm banned except under specific circumstances.
The union’s proposal reflects a creative approach to a serious issue, highlighting the need for innovative solutions in the fight against rising knife crime.