Tegel scandal: 800,000 euros a day for security companies!

Tegel scandal: 800,000 euros a day for security companies!

The former Tegel airport site in Berlin is currently the focus of reporting. Originally planned as temporary accommodation for Ukrainian refugees, it became the largest and most expensive refugee accommodation in the Federal Republic. And what a price tag that has: the operation of this facility costs a total of 298 million euros! At the end of November, the Federal Audit Office criticized the poor performance of the State Office for Refugee Affairs, as Apollo News reported. The report of the daily mirror shows that the accommodation currently counts 3729 residents.

The security service plays a central role in immense costs. Almost a third of the total editions, around 90 million euros, flow here alone. With up to 300 guards per layer, a safety contingent is provided that is second to none. But how did this expensive escalation of the costs come about? In contrast to other accommodations, the security services in Tegel are not organized directly by the LAF, but by the Berlin trade fair. And the Berlin Messe commissioned no less than the company Teamflex Solutions, whose profit shot due to the large order - from 450,000 euros in 2019 to 8.2 million euros in 2022.

The explosion of the costs

A decisive aspect of the rapidly growing costs is a questionable award practice. Unlike in similar cases, the Berlin Mass uses security services on Teamflex Solutions, the profits of which almost exploded through this order. During a raid in December 2023, the customs of serious defects found in the accommodation: 55 guards had to acknowledge their job immediately because they lacked the necessary qualifications. Teamflex officially reported 13 subcontractors, but employees of 48 different companies were on site - a clear breach of contract. These and other incidents raise many questions that are currently being examined by the Berlin Court of Auditors.

controversy about security

In addition, the practice of "cross -subsidization" is criticized. Messe Berlin raises a processing fee of 15 percent on all services, which drives the costs even further. An insider complains: "This constellation means that it becomes very expensive," reports the Tagesspiegel. The security concept was already the subject of Rügen of the auditor. According to the report of the Berlin Court of Auditors, no complete controls were carried out from September 2021 to January 2023 at night. At least this was "accepted", the authority continued.

The dimensions of this financial burden are difficult to grasp. It becomes clear that the handling of the processes has great savings potential, but this has so far remained unused. The debate about the most expensive refugee accommodation in Germany heats the minds and throws a bright light on the chaotic conditions in the Berlin administration, such as a longer report on youtube shows. The problem is far from solved, but the debate about it is in full swing.