Welcome to the project webpage for the survey on "Safety and Crime in Germany 2026 (SKiD 2026)"

"Safety and Crime in Germany 2026 (SKiD 2026)" is a nationwide survey undertaken by Verian on behalf of the Office of the German Federal Criminal Police (Bundeskriminalamt/BKA). The BKA has worked in close cooperation with the police forces of the German federal states in the conceptual development of this research. The survey has been conducted at regular intervals since 2020 – and now the third wave is about to begin.

The aim of the research is to obtain a comprehensive and scientifically informed picture of safety and crime in Germany. It covers personal perceptions of safety, real victim accounts, willingness to report crimes and attitudes towards policing.

The findings will contribute to a better understanding of unreported crime and support evidence-based policy in public safety. It will provide a basis for further development of prevention, victim protection and policing.

Your views and experience on safety and crime issues are of great importance. Every person participating in the survey will help shape a better understanding of the safety situation both nationwide in Germany and at federal state level.

Key details at a glance:

• Verian is conducting SKiD 2026 on behalf of the Office of the German Federal Criminal Police BKA.
• Your participation in the survey is of course voluntary.
• We will ensure that we are in absolute strict compliance with all data protection requirements. Your anonymity will be protected.

FAQs

What does the SKiD 2026 survey cover?

The SKiD 2026 survey focuses on the following issues:

• How safe do people feel in Germany?
• What do they do to protect themselves from crime?
• How often have people in Germany been victims of crime, and what were these crimes?
• What crimes are brought to the attention of the police and which are not?
• How is the work of the police perceived and rated?

By participating, you will make a valuable contribution to gaining a better understanding of safety and crime in Germany and designing more effective measures.

Who is involved in conducting the SKiD 2026 survey?

The Office of the German Federal Criminal Police (BKA) is responsible for the conceptual development of the SKiD 2026 survey. This concept has been developed in close cooperation with the police forces in all 16 German federal states.

Verian, registered as Mantle Germany GmbH, is working as the polling company conducting the present SKiD 2026 survey on behalf of the BKA.

How was I selected to participate in this research?

For the SKiD 2026 survey, a random selection of around 200,000 people aged 16 and over was made from the records at the residents’ registration offices using a statistical randomisation process. So that we could contact you, your local residents’ registration office provided us with your personal details as part of a bulk data disclosure procedure. The legal basis for disclosure of this data is Section 34 and Section 46 of the Federal Registration Act (BMG) in accordance with the applicable statutory provisions in Germany. Please be assured that all data protection requirements will be strictly adhered to.

Only persons who have received an invitation letter for the survey will be able to participate.

How can I participate in the survey?

You may opt to participate in SKiD 2026 by filling in the paper questionnaire that has been sent to you or by answering the questions online. You are free to decide yourself how you would like to participate. Please complete the questionnaire only once.

The online questionnaire will guide you automatically through it. This will save you time answering the questions. To participate online, please click here or on the orange “Go to questionnaire” button at the top of this page. Then please enter your personal access code, which you will find on the cover page of the paper questionnaire.

If you have decided to do the paper questionnaire, please return the completed form in the enclosed prepaid envelope. Please send the completed questionnaire only to Verian at the following address:

Verian
Studie: SKiD
Postfach 11 4 7
35501 Butzbach

Am I obliged to participate in the survey?

Your participation in SKiD 2026 is voluntary.

To obtain the most meaningful and reliable results about Germany as a whole, it is important that as many of the randomly selected people participate as possible. This is why your participation is so important.

If you do not take part, or do not complete the questionnaire, there will be no negative consequences for you whatsoever.

Is my personal data protected?

It is especially important to us that your personal data is protected.

For this reason, we adhere to all the legal requirements for data protection in Germany as a matter of course. The only reason why the residents’ registration offices are authorised to provide us with addresses for this scientific research is because we ensure that all data protection regulations are fully adhered to. All information will be treated and analysed confidentially with protection of your anonymity. It is not possible for individuals to be identified based on their responses.

For more detailed information, please refer to our data protection statement enclosed with the invitation letter you have received. If you have any queries about data protection or any other questions about the research, please call the free telephone number to talk to the Verian project team. 0800 100 7756 (Monday to Friday from 9 am to 4 pm). Or write us an email: skid@veriangroup.com.

Where can I find more information?

• The project page on the website of the Office of the German Federal Criminal Police (Bundeskriminalamt)

Verian, BKA and the police forces in the participating federal states wish to express their gratitude to everyone participating in this important research on safety in Germany. 

The Safety and Crime in Germany 2026 (SKiD 2026) project is co-funded by the European Union through the Internal Security Fund.