When chief commissioner Stefan Scharfenstein and his team scrutinise the pedestrian zone, parks and squares in Bad Godesberg, it is the looks on people’s faces that make the difference. In the pedestrian zone, they are more open and warm, around Aennchenplatz and Villichgasse, furtive and hostile. But the difference depends not only on the place, but also on the time. “There is a huge difference between Bad Godesberg during the day and at night,” says Scharfenstein. By day, a happy, friendly multi-cultural mix prevails. At night, things change.

Scharfenstein knows what he is talking about. Although he works at the Bad Godesberg police station, he and his team rarely see their desks. “We need to be outside on the streets.” And their presence is increasing. The police started their security policy for Bad Godesberg at the beginning of June. Part of the policy is the so-called visibility and intervention operation being carried out in conjunction with the city. The concept is that more officers are on the streets between 9am and 8pm, and between 8pm and 4am, the focus is on monitoring potential young offenders.

The intervention programme could be seen in action on Wednesday evening. After a short briefing, police headed to the Kurpark. The scene was idyllic. Children were playing, the city sports association was organising sport in the park, veiled and unveiled women were picnicking. Passersby were clearly pleased about the police presence. There were a few men on benches drinking beer, but they were behaving and did not object being checked.

A short while ago, before the police were routinely present in these sensitive areas, the situation looked different. Youths known to the police lingered on the steps of the Kurfürsten well. They included Walid S., who allegedly killed Niklas P. by hitting and treading on his head. Chief superintendent Mario Hering said Walid S. was approached there by police shortly before his arrest. “He was rude and disrespectful.” Disrespect is something many police are fighting against. The tone is harsher, though Hering says most attacks are only verbal. However, reinforcements are often required “so that nothing happens.”

Scharfenstein ascribes the calmer situation to the exclusion orders issued to 13 young offenders, who have to stay away from parks and public places between 8pm and 6am until the middle of September. “So far, there has been no breach.” There are youths who want to follow in their footsteps, but on Wednesday it was relatively quiet in the Redoute and Panorama parks.

In Villichgasse and Aennchenplatz, where a fight between a bar owner and the owner of an office escalated a few days ago, there were no major problems. However, there was the feeling that some of the men standing around had something to hide. Even when no one was prosecuted this time, “it’s important we show we are there,” said Scharfenstein, as the men in the square and in the bars, restaurants and passing cars are known to police.

As well as police, the Stadtordnungsdienst and a drug sniffer dog are always present as part of the intervention programme. “The chances of encountering drugs are high,” said Scharfenstein.

Officers also checked some tinkers they suspected of not having insured their car, which was not the case. This kind of check also first started with the intervention programme. The reason is obvious to Scharfenstein: “The B9 is the approach road to Bad Godesberg.”Orig. text: Ayla Jacob; translated by Kate Carey.