A German police chief has been forced to clarify his remarks after suggesting women would be safer avoiding relationships with men, a comment that quickly ignited debate online.
Dirk Peglow, head of the Association of German Criminal Investigators (BDK), made the statement during an appearance on national broadcaster ZDF's heute journal, where he was discussing rising violence against women.
Asked what advice he would give, Peglow said that, according to the statistics, it would be "better not to enter into a relationship with a man", citing a significantly higher risk of psychological or physical violence.
The comment drew both backlash and support across social media.
Peglow pointed to figures from 2024, stating that at least two women or girls per day in Germany were victims of attempted or completed homicide. He also referenced an increase in serious sexual offences, including rape and assault, and stressed that perpetrators are often found within victims’ social circles.
Speaking later to Bild, a German tabloid, Peglow said his remarks had been deliberately exaggerated and were not intended as literal advice. He added that the vast majority of men are not violent and not offenders.
The debate has since escalated further, with ZDF presenter Dunja Hayali saying both she and Peglow received threats following the interview.
The controversy comes amid wider scrutiny of Germany’s crime statistics, which show a rise in violent offences even as overall recorded crime has declined.
