Suicide in the police crime statistics

Abstract

Background and objective: Although suicide is not a criminal offence and the person who commits suicide is neither a victim nor a perpetrator in the classic police sense, suicides are the subject of police investigations and sometimes even recorded in the police crime statistics. In the state of Bavaria, available data go back to 1986. The present analysis provides information about the development of suicides registered by the police, the social characteristics of the individuals who commit suicide, and the methods and circumstances for suicide. In particular, the extent to which the first few months of the COVID-19 pandemic had an impact on suicide risk is examined. Methods: Descriptive statistical analysis of completed and attempted suicides based on the Bavarian police crime statistics from 1986–2020. Results: The number of suicide deaths has continuously declined over the decades. This positive trend is also visible in the reporting year 2020, which is profoundly influenced by the COVID-19 pandemic. Most of the persons who commit suicide are male and older than the age of 60. Hanging is the most commonly used method to commit suicide and the circumstances for doing so are often a mental or physical illness. Discussion: Prevention of danger is an important duty of police. Data generated by the police, experience-based knowledge, and police intervention and influence can help prevent suicides. The statistical recording of suicides in the police crime statistics is a valuable addition to the causes of death statistics and provides a basis for optimizing prevention and emergency care.