Weapon controls in Kiel: For more security in public spaces!

Weapon controls in Kiel: For more security in public spaces!

In the Kiel area, the police took action and carried out several gun checks to strengthen citizens' sense of security. These checks took place in Kiel-Gaarden, at Kiel main station and at Preetz station. While no violations of the weapons law were found in the latter two locations, the police at Kiel Central Station were less lucky. There, two one-hand knives, two folding knives, a hunting knife and a blunt sword were seized from a 22-year-old. In addition, some drugs and a blank gun were discovered. The measures are intended to increase public awareness of the gun ban and give people a feeling of security, reports Kiel News.

But what does security mean for the people on site? A fundamental need for security shapes life in every community. The feeling of security depends on many factors, such as health, interpersonal relationships or even the financial situation. Public spaces are often characterized by so-called “fear spots” and signs of social disorder, which can have a negative impact on the feeling of security. Citizens can be afraid of crimes that only occur rarely, which has a significant influence on their behavior Interviews show.

Police presence and its impact

However, the view on how an increased police presence actually influences the feeling of security is inconsistent. A study from Kassel shows that additional police in certain areas can increase the perception of social problems without changing the objective crime figures. It was precisely in these areas that citizens reported an increase in feelings of insecurity. Respondents still wanted more police presence, pointing to a complex relationship between subjective feelings of security and actual crime. So even though police are effectively addressing crime-related issues, feelings of security often lag behind the actual numbers, reported behoerden-spiegel.de.

Meanwhile, a field experiment organized by criminologist Tim Pfeiffer will examine the effects of police presence in Kassel. The police are specifically reinforced in certain parts of the city with uniformed foot patrols. Over 18,000 citizens were invited to take part in a panel survey to record perceptions before and after the interventions, as praeventionstag.de reports. The results of this study could provide valuable clues as to how scientifically based measures can sustainably improve the population's sense of security.

In summary, it shows that creating a feeling of security among the population does not only depend on the numbers reported by the police. Rather, social dynamics and individual perceptions also play a key role. The path to a safe living environment lies in closing gaps in public perception and effectively addressing fears - be it through policing or other preventative measures. It remains exciting to see what approaches cities will come up with in the future.