Safe Hamburg Central Station: Weapons ban shows first success!

Safe Hamburg Central Station: Weapons ban shows first success!

At the Hamburg Central Station, a strict ban on weapons has been in force since October 1, 2023, which apparently shows success after one year. According to Daniel Schaefer, a spokesman for the interior authority, the statistics show significant declines in violent crimes. In the first half of 2024, the federal police counted 290 acts of violence compared to 720 in the entire previous year. The decline is attributed to the high risk of control and discovery that has been created since the ban was introduced.

Numerous weapons were secured this year, including 450 knives and almost 190 other weapons, such as telescopic punches and shock pistols. These consolidations took place as part of 22 larger control campaigns, which were carried out by the federal police and the state police. The measures aim to increase the security in the main train station sustainably.

persistent doubts about the effectiveness

Nevertheless, there are critical voices, especially from the German Police Union. Thomas Jungfer, the state chair in Hamburg, expresses concerns about the effectiveness of the weapon ban. In his opinion, the prohibition of weapons does not bring the desired success because people who want to take weapons with them would do so despite a ban. In addition, the Hamburg-Mitte district found that criminal activities, such as drug trafficking, were pushed into adjacent districts instead of stopping them entirely.

The police react to these developments with additional security measures. About a year and a half ago, the "Allianz Safe Central Station" was founded, a joint project by the Hamburg police, federal police, DB security and high -way station. This collaboration enables more patrol in so-called Quattro strips and intensify the video surveillance. In addition, another ban was recently introduced: Drinking alcohol at the main train station has been illegal since April 2, 2024.

The security situation is still closely observed and the responsible strips strive to strengthen the feeling of security of the citizens. The success of the measures is crucial to maintain trust in the security forces and to combat crime in one of the most central traffic hubs in Germany. According to reports, more than 130 police officers had to intervene, which illustrates the efforts to ensure public security.

This comprehensive approach to improve security at Hamburg Central Station could provide criteria for similar measures in other cities where there are similar problems. While the discussion about the effectiveness of the weapon ban continues, compliance with the new rules remains of significant importance.