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Potsdam in the graffiti storm: City does not respond to A.C.A.B. -Criticism!
In Potsdam there was graffiti with “A.C.A.B.” discovered criticizing the police. The city does not see itself responsible.
Potsdam in the graffiti storm: City does not respond to A.C.A.B. -Criticism!
Graffiti not only brings with it works of art, but also a lot of discussion. In Potsdam, the lettering with the provocative abbreviation “A.C.A.B.” in places like Zeppelinstrasse, Daimlerstrasse and Erika-Wolf-Strasse caused excitement. The acronym, which stands for “All Cops Are Bastards,” has a clear anti-police message. But while some see this as an expression of freedom of expression, the city of Potsdam sees no responsibility for the removal of this graffiti. According to the city administration, these do not constitute a violation of the law as long as they do not target specific police officers. In many cases, the matter is left to the homeowners, who have to pay for the removal themselves without support from the city.
According to information from maz-online.de For example, the Potsdamer Wohnungsgenossenschaft 1956 (PWG) recently had an “A.C.A.B.” lettering removed for an impressive 14,182 euros. However, only part of the costs were covered by insurance. This constant graffiti removal could not only drive up utility costs for tenants, but also increase insurance premiums.
A look at the background
The discussion about graffiti is not just local. According to the Federal Criminal Police Office, property damage caused by graffiti is a widespread problem in Germany. Statista has published that the number of police-recorded graffiti cases was recorded continuously between 2014 and 2024, indicating an ongoing problem in many cities.
Another example of graffiti damage occurred at the beginning of the year in Boßweiler in Leiningerland. Damage amounting to around 3,000 euros was caused to a bus stop there on the night of January 13th to 14th, 2023. Thanks to tips from the public, the local police are looking for witnesses to identify the perpetrators. More information about this is available from the Grünstadt police, who can be reached on 06359 93120 or by email at pigruenstadt@polizei.rlp.de, as on wochenblatt-reporter.de reported.
The police union (GdP) in Brandenburg has once again strongly condemned the use of the “A.C.A.B.” lettering. The GdP regional district chairwoman Anita Kirsten points out that such general statements defame all police officers and do not contribute to clarification. Rather, this leads to a division in society, which must urgently be avoided.
At a time when dialogue between citizens and the police is essential, it is to be hoped that these incidents lead to a constructive exchange and not to further incomprehension.