Niklas P. deadly attack Greater police presence in Bad Godesberg
Bad Godesberg · Bonn police will zero in on youth violence with a new concept. Police and city officials hope to increase security in public places through increased surveillance and prevention.
In the wake of the deadly attack on Niklas P. in Bad Godesberg, the district’s development, particularly with regard to youth violence has become a main topic of discussion. Police chief Ursula Brohl-Sowa says the statistics give a clear picture: when January through May of 2015 are compared to the same period in 2016, there is a slight increase in crime overall from 2,325 to 2,700 cases. Uncertainty and in part, fear has spread throughout the population. Littering and loud, rowdy groups of youth who border on breaking the law serve to reduce people’s feeling of security.
To win back citizens’ trust in the police force and to ensure that Bad Godesbergers feel safe in their city again, officials have broadened their concept of increased police presence. According to Helmut Pfau, police director of the crime prevention sector, there will be more police patrols on foot or on bikes and the city will support this measure. With this move, officials hope to reduce crime and put a stop to negative developments. The new measures began on June 7 and since then, six bigger patrols with ten to 50 police have taken place.
Youth offenders will become the focus of law enforcement efforts. Pfau indicated that troublemakers will be kept under greater scrutiny. Police will work to monitor areas, observesuspicious individuals and approach them when necessary. Nightly controls at hot spots such as the Kurpark and Rheinallee, especially on the weekends, will be one example of their new course of action. Others would include the revoking of asuspect’s driver’s license, or banning the youth from certain public places. 15 such individuals have already received warnings from the police. Failure to abide by these warnings would result in a fine of 500 euros or a night in jail.
Additionally, there will be two designated police officers who are there specifically for youth. They should be in place at the latest by September. As well, there will be a task force discussing the installation of surveillance technology around Bonn; it will include both police and city officials. By November, they will have a better idea as to where and if video cameras would be installed in Bonn’s public places.
Orig. text: Ayla Jacob. Translation: Geena Kloeppel
