Karl Mahrer: Safety pact should stop youth crime in Vienna!

Karl Mahrer: Safety pact should stop youth crime in Vienna!

In a current interview, Karl Mahrer, the top candidate of the ÖVP for the upcoming Vienna elections, talks about urgent problems in the city. Mahrer comments on the escalating youth crime and considerable failures in education policy. He calls for the creation of his own city guard for Vienna and sees this as a crucial step to take responsibility for security in the city.

mahrer is certain that the return of the People's Party to government responsibility after 25 years of “left-left-wing politics” can only succeed if the political will for real solutions is available. This also includes the security pact for Vienna presented by the ÖVP, which includes strengthening the police, the establishment of a 1000-person city guard and nationwide video surveillance. This proposal is aimed at the growing concern of the population about security and order.

youth crime in focus

According to current reports, the number of crimes committed by minors has risen sharply in recent years. For example, the number of ads around 10 to 14 year olds rose from 6,311 in 2014 to 9,730 in 2023. These alarming numbers are the reason for the establishment of an interministerial working group to combat youth crime, which was founded on March 7, 2024. Dieter CSEFAN, the Federal Coordinator of the Operations Groups, leads this group and focuses primarily on minor intensive offenders.

In Vienna, around 500 students are suspended every year due to violent behavior, with the tendency to be increasing. Many affected young people have no regulated daily routine and do not return to school after suspension. Extra projects for close support for young perpetrators seem urgently needed.

fight causes

The increase in youth crime is fueled by social media and ethnically motivated conflicts, especially between groups that fight for supremacy in parks. Robbery is a common problem in Vienna, although the victims are often defenseless. A hotspot for such raids is the stairway along the Danube Canal.

In order to take preventive against these developments, a draft for the amendment of the Security Police Act to prevent dangerous attacks by minors was initiated. A weapon ban was also introduced at the Reumannplatz to further increase security. Since March 2024, the presence of the police has also been strengthened, in particular by the youth crime.

The current situation illustrates the need for comprehensive measures. Mahrer announces that he wants to combat the causes of youth crime through education and integration. In this context, he criticizes the failure of the NEOS in German funding and emphasizes that real solutions are required to tackle the challenges of youth crime.

The situation remains tense, and the desired measures and projects, such as the “Under18” program for young people aged twelve, which is to be a focus in 2025, could be crucial for the future of Vienna and its young residents.

The need for reform and action is undeniable; Vienna faces the challenge of not only improving the security situation, but also tackling social and educational policy focal points in order to achieve a positive change in youth policy. The endeavor to take responsibility and solutions is expected from many sides.