Security Summit: Package of measures for more security agreed upon

The participants around Kai Wegner (CDU, 2nd from right), governing mayor of Berlin, sit together at the start of the Berlin "Security Summit" in the Red Town Hall.

At the invitation of the Governing Mayor, Kai Wegner, the Berlin Security Summit took place on Friday.

In addition to the mayor, participants included Interior Senator Iris Spranger, Justice Senator Dr Felor Badenberg, Health Senator Dr Ina Czyborra, Police Commissioner Dr Barbara Slowik and State Fire Director Dr Karsten Homrighausen, as well as the district mayors of Mitte, Stefanie Remlinger and Friedrichshain-Kreuzberg, Clara Herrmann. They met with the aim of strengthening the security organs and improving the security situation in Berlin. To this end, the participants agreed on concrete steps to focus on security in public spaces, improvements for emergency services and action against organised crime. The action paper adopted for this purpose also includes decisive measures to increase security at Görlitzer Park in Kreuzberg and at Leopoldplatz in Mitte.

City-wide and interdisciplinary approach

Following the meeting, participants emphasised the new interdepartmental approach of the Security Summit. "There is a new underhook in this city - senate and districts, interior and justice administration, prevention work and police work. This new underhook makes our city safer," Wegner emphasised. Through close cooperation and a city-wide coordinated approach between the police, the judiciary, the fire brigade, social actors and the districts, crime in Berlin is to be fought sustainably at all levels and the security situation is to be improved.

More security in public spaces

The Berlin Security Summit focuses on the changed public security situation in the capital. With a city-wide strategy and a wide-ranging package of measures, the Senate, in exchange with the districts, wants to meet the complex challenges posed by drug use, homelessness, as well as multiple burdens on homeless people and the considerable overuse of individual public places. To this end, an interdepartmental steering committee is being set up to strengthen the joint approach of all security authorities. Specifically, the individual measures include health and social prevention through accommodation services and drug consumption facilities and urban crime prevention and green space maintenance as well as police and prosecutorial measures. For example, park runners are to be deployed and additional sports facilities created in Görlitzer Park. Staffed toilets and improved lighting concepts are also part of the package of measures. In addition, the police are present in Görlitzer Park, on Leopoldplatz and in the neighbouring residential areas; if necessary, the police presence will be increased. Furthermore, permanent prosecutors are assigned to crime-ridden locations in order to effectively curb drug trafficking and violence.

Respect and legal certainty for security, justice and emergency personnel

The special challenges for employees in the fire brigade, police, public order offices and the judiciary are to be given greater consideration in future. To this end, among other things, an amendment to the law on official accidents, a framework service agreement for the protection of employees as well as the fixing of special age limits at the previous level were decided. In addition, the legal basis for the work of the police, public order offices and fire brigade will be adapted in order to improve legal certainty for police and public order officers. Specifically, the use of body cams in cases of domestic violence, the creation of up to five days of preventive custody and the video surveillance of crime-ridden locations are planned.

Joint action against organised crime

The fight against organised crime is to be further expanded. To this end, the existing structures for combating clan crime will be expanded to include areas that take a holistic view of organised criminal structures and focus on money laundering, narcotics trafficking, arms trafficking, cryptocurrencies and new types of business models within these structures. Prevention measures as well as exit programmes are intended to both prevent entry into organised crime and facilitate the exit for those involved.