Playgrounds in Prenzlau: worries about security and youth crime

Playgrounds in Prenzlau: worries about security and youth crime

in Prenzlau, the northern city in Brandenburg, an emotionally guided discourse for the safety of playgrounds ensures a lot of conversation. Mayor candidate Eve Guske pointed out the worrying youth crime on Facebook, which is around 25 percent in the region. It is committed to solutions and uses the hashtags #pielplatzstattstartänd and #Fürdiekinderfürdiestadtfürunsallle to bundle the concerns of the citizens. But what exactly is going on? There are many misunderstandings in particular through social media that cause unrest.

In a main committee meeting of the CDU city council, Andreas Meyer claimed that a sign should be set up for non-public use. This was emotionally interpreted on Facebook as a wish to generally close playgrounds. A rumor that quickly made the round and caused great concern among the citizens. The city then reacted immediately and clarified in a press release that there was never such a wish. Public playgrounds remain accessible.

youth crime and their effects

tension can be felt not only in Prenzlau, but also in other cities, such as the Berlin district of Prenzlauer Berg. Here, the youth violence, especially robbery and threat to young people, rose dramatically. According to data from the Berlin police, a total of 349 cases of robbery and threat were recorded in 2021, in 2022 this number rose to 557 and 2023 to 591, with 84 cases also registered in Prenzlauer Berg. The increase in these incidents is partially attributed to the pandeme -related restrictions.

What many do not know: Often the perpetrators are under 14 years and therefore without punishment. Talks with the parents of the young criminals are essential in most cases, but the legal options are severely restricted. This situation raises questions about the responsibility and support of young people who live in a social system that is becoming increasingly challenging.

numbers and facts about youth crime

According to the Federal Criminal Police Office, youth crime in Germany in 2024 has reached a maximum of around 13,800 cases, which is more than twice as high as in 2016. Especially in adolescents between the ages of 14 and 17, an increase in violent crimes is evident. A similar development can also be observed among adolescents between the ages of 18 and 20. The reasons are diverse and range from psychological stress from corona measures to structural problems within society.

For Prenzlau and other cities, the question arises: How can we guarantee the safety of our children and at the same time create a safe environment in which everyone feels comfortable? It is time for us to act as a community and find solutions!

The discussion about security and the challenges of youth crime remains exciting, and we can be excited to see how the city of Prenzlau and other regions will react. Stay on it!