Kreuzberg in the turmoil: Building fence for Görlitzer Park is supposed to stop crime!

Kreuzberg in the turmoil: Building fence for Görlitzer Park is supposed to stop crime!

In Berlin-Kreuzberg, the construction of a fence around Görlitzer Park begins on Tuesday. This measure takes place in the context of increasing drug crime and violent clashes in the park, which the residents and the city administration have been concerned with for a long time. Traffic senator Ute Bonde (CDU) announced that the construction site should first be set up before pouring the foundations for gates and gaps in the overcap. The entire process for the construction of fence elements and new entrance gates should be completed by the end of the year, according to RBB24.

The decision for the fence building is the result of a continuous dispute over the nightly closure of the park, which the Senate from the CDU and SPD had already indicated in 2023. This measure aims to reduce drug trafficking and violent crime. In the course of these developments, a total of 1,373 crimes were registered in Görlitzer Park last year, compared to 936 in 2022.

protests announced

opponents of fence construction and the nightly closure have already announced protest actions for Monday evening. These demonstrations are to take place on Spreewaldplatz, the police are being monitored by the construction site to protect against possible disorders. Es bleibt unklar, ob die ersten Maßnahmen am Montag sichtbar sein werden, da der Bau in mehreren Schritten erfolgt und die Materialien ausgeliefert werden müssen, wie Nordkurier berichtet.

The debates on further measures to fight crime in Görlitzer Park and other heavily affected areas, such as Leopoldplatz, are reflected in the recent discussions between the CDU and the SPD. While the CDU demands more comprehensive security measures, including increased police controls and video surveillance, the SPD only partially approved these proposals. The SPD argues that video surveillance is not realistic across the board and instead suggests suggestions for a temporary night closure of the park and strengthening social work. In addition, an evaluation is aimed at after completion of the measures, as [https://www.tagesspiegel.de/berlin/drogenkriminalitat-in-berlin-cdu-und--uns--uber-masses-fur-gorlitzer-Park-und- and-leopoldplatz-10426366.html).

In the coming days, a security summit will take place, which is headed by the Senator Iris Spranger (SPD) and other Senate members. The general security situation, drug trafficking in Görlitzer Park and other relevant topics are to be discussed there. The police union calls for binding agreements and clear solutions to counter the challenges in connection with drug crime in Berlin.