A sequence analysis of the police definition of "clan" and "clan crime": an attempt to reconstruct specific police structures of meaning

Struck, Jens; Nüschen, Stella; Wagner, Daniel, Dangelmaier, Tamara

Abstract

This article analyzes the German nationwide police definition of “clan” and “clan crime” using sequence analysis based on Objective Hermeneutics to uncover latent structures of meaning. The analysis shows that the police definition is ambiguous, enabling broad application while avoiding explicit ethnic targeting. While the definition suggests clan membership relies on self-identification through “a common understanding of descent,” in practice, police in North Rhine-Westphalia identify clan members primarily through surnames. The definition establishes that any criminal behavior by clan members constitutes “clan crime,” regardless of whether clan affiliation influenced the offense. Despite its apparently neutral language, the definition is applied exclusively to Turkish-Arab extended families. This (strategic) ambiguity allows authorities to target specific ethnic groups while maintaining plausible deniability regarding discrimination. The ana lysis reveals the gap between the definition’s formal neutrality and its practical implementation.