Frankfurt train station district: police and city to tackle drug escalation
Politicians and authorities in Frankfurt's train station district have approved an emergency programme to address drug problems. Measures include a new police station, AI-assisted surveillance, and drug checking.
Frankfurt train station district: police and city to tackle drug escalation
Politicians and security authorities in Frankfurt's train station district have approved an emergency programme to improve the strained situation in the district. The programme followed a top-level meeting between Hesse's Interior Minister Roman Poseck and Lord Mayor Mike Josef.
The measures include the construction of a new police station in the district, increased use of artificial intelligence for data analysis, and the deployment of facial recognition technology. Drug checking will also be introduced, in which drugs are chemically examined.
The property owners' initiative Bahnhofsviertel has criticised the lack of a comprehensive plan despite repeated discussions. Gunnar Berendson, spokesperson for the initiative, stated that they felt nothing was moving forward. Property owners indicated they spend around one million euros annually on private security services to protect building entrances.
Just on Tuesday, a control operation in the district was interrupted after a drug-dependent man attacked and injured a police officer with a sharp object. Officers then opened fire and shot the attacker, leaving him seriously injured.
A planned crack addiction help centre on Niddastraße remains controversial. The city has high hopes for the project, though critics fear the planned capacities will not be sufficient.
The city is also examining whether small-scale dealing in illegal drugs in consumption rooms could be legally permitted. Medical treatment of severe crack-dependent patients with cocaine and amphetamine is also to be tested.
Source: DIE ZEIT
Source: Google News DE — Crime (de)