Vienna remains sharp: prohibition of weapons in favorites and Praterstern extended!

Vienna remains sharp: prohibition of weapons in favorites and Praterstern extended!

The Viennese police continue to rely on weapons ban zones to increase public security. As State Police President Gerhard Pürstl said, the zones remain in favorites and the Praterstern because they have led to a significant decline in violent crime. Since the introduction of these zones, 118 weapons have been banned in favorites, including 80 knives, while 95 weapons, including 73 knives, were confiscated in the neighboring Praterstern last year. Pürstl explained: "The weapon ban was certainly the right measure, and we will also extend it", as Exxpress reports .

Pürstl even requires a nationwide ban on wearing knives and weapons, since the zones in densely populated areas are now recognized as effective. This could contain exceptions for gun owners or hunters, but it can be seen that there is an increased need for security, especially in public. In recent years, the police have determined a decline in burglaries, but this is overshadowed by the continuing violence in public space, which is often associated with migrant violence and youth crime. "You can see what is going on there. When knife stabbing occurs, the police have to show flag," emphasized Pürstl and pointed out that many activities of young people in these regions have already been informed, which indicates an increased need for police protection, as well as Kosmo reports .

In addition to the topic of weapons, the growing youth crime also receives special attention. The police chief emphasized that more and more criminal young people are increasingly involved in criminal activities. These developments led some of these young people to commit over 150 crimes per month. Pürstl appealed to society to take care of the upbringing of these young people more instead of simply taking them in custody. "The boys have to feel any consequence for their actions," said Pürstl. Overall, the Viennese police in 2025 remains focused on security measures in public space in order to strengthen the subjective feeling of security of the population.