Security measures for New Year's Eve: Police give an insight into use!

Security measures for New Year's Eve: Police give an insight into use!

The Austrian Interior Minister Gerhard Karner and the state police president Gerhard Pürstl will hold a local inspection on December 30, 2024 for the security measures on New Year's Eve 2024. During this visit there is a briefing, followed by a tour, in which the media can accompany the police officers already in use. The meeting point is at 10:15 a.m. at the square at the Hof in Vienna, right in front of the mobile operational container. Media representatives are cordially invited to this date, but need a prior accreditation in order to participate, as on the official website of ots.at explained.

Gerhard Pürstl in focus

Gerhard Pürstl, who has been the police chief of Vienna since 2008, has had an impressive career. After studying law at the University of Vienna, he joined the Vienna police in 1988. Over the years, Pürstl gained extensive experience in various management positions, most recently as the state police president, which made him a respected figure in the country's security architecture. Before his appointment as the President of the State Police, he worked as a main advisor in the office for legal questions. Pürstl was confirmed in this office by Interior Minister Gerhard Karner for another five years, as Wikipedia reported.

his leadership style and his decisions have often attracted media attention. Especially in 2014 during the Vienna Academic Ball, Pürstl came under criticism after he had expressed the data from demonstrators who were "at the rescue". Despite these challenges, he received support from political parties such as the ÖVP and the FPÖ.