This is the 17th year, where people are valued who are brave enough to look into a crime and intervene. Through their actions, they help protect victims and prevent and explain crime. The prize honours them for their exemplary actions.

The "XY Award - Together Against Crime" is under the patronage of the German Federal Minister of the Interior. Since 2002 it has been awarded by the ZDF and the XY production company Securitel to people with special moral courage.

The program "Aktenzeichen XY ... unresolved" is one of the oldest formats of ZDF. It has been broadcast since 1967 and goes back to the idea developed by the television presenter and journalist Eduard Zimmermann. The concept is that viewers help to solve unsolved cases. According to figures from ZDF, over 40 percent of all cases which were shown on the programme "Aktenzeichen XY ... unresolved", have already been explained.