German Book on Policing and Migration Sparks Debate

A new book by German investigative journalist Liv von Boetticher has sparked widespread debate in Germany. The book, Wir verlieren dieses Land (We Are Losing This Country), is based on interviews with more than a hundred police officers and presents anonymous accounts of overstretched law enforcement agencies, the functioning of the state, and the challenges posed by migration and crime.

Von Boetticher said she was inspired to write the book while accompanying the German Federal Police during border checks targeting illegal migration. According to the author, officers spoke openly only when cameras were switched off and no police spokesperson was present.

The book says about eight million people have arrived in Germany since 2021 and that non-German citizens now account for 17% of the population. Citing police crime statistics for 2025, it also states that foreigners make up about 43% of criminal suspects.

Some officers interviewed for the book say political pressure prevents them from speaking openly about the realities of their work. Von Boetticher also rejects accusations that she holds far-right views, emphasizing that Germany is a country of immigrants and will continue to rely on immigration for demographic reasons.

She argues, however, that effective solutions are impossible without first acknowledging the underlying problems.

(bild, bak)