Security on the ZOB: City of Aalen plans to ban alcohol and more light!

Security on the ZOB: City of Aalen plans to ban alcohol and more light!

Aalen, Deutschland - In Aalen, security at the central zob (central bus station) is significantly improved after it has been identified as an anxiety in a safety survey. According to the survey, which was carried out by the Institute for Criminology at Heidelberg University and the Institute for Criminological Research Baden-Württemberg, 15,000 Aaleners aged 16 and over have the opportunity to express their concerns. Over 3,400 citizens took part and evaluated the quality of life in their city with a school grade 2.7. Especially at night, the people on the ZOB and the station forecourt feel a strongly reduced feeling of security.

The results show that less crime, but rather "incivilities" - such as garbage, noise and disrespectful behavior - are perceived as the causes of uncertainty. In view of these circumstances, the city administration of Aalen is planning a temporary alcohol consumption ban on the ZOB. The legal options for this are currently being examined to ensure effective action. This is in accordance with the realization that dealing with alcohol in public spaces is a central challenge for urban security, as is also emphasized by the Federal Center for Political Education.

planned measures to improve security

In addition to the alcohol ban, several measures are provided to increase the security on the ZOB sustainably. This includes better lighting, the installation of more light sources to increase visibility and thus the feeling of security, as well as the expansion of the municipal regulatory service (KOD). Another position for the KOD is also planned in the 2025 budget.

The city of Aalen also plans to establish an interdisciplinary working group entitled "Prevention and Security in Aalen", which is intended to develop strategies to improve the situation. 100,000 euros in the 2025 budget have already been planned for the security measures. The goal is to check the effectiveness of the planned measures, which is why a repetition of the safety survey is planned in three to five years.

additional challenges of urban security

The challenges for security in urban rooms are diverse. In addition to the aspects already mentioned such as public alcohol abuse and disrespectful behavior, demography and social polarization also play a role. The Federal Center for Political Education emphasizes that cities are considered confusing places due to their diversity and opposites that offer potential threats to security and order. In larger cities in particular, there is a higher burden of crimes, which underlines the need for action of local actors.

The upcoming measures in Aalen are seen as part of a comprehensive approach to urban security, which also requires coordination between various institutions and actors of the city society. This makes it clear that security is not just a question of the police, but a common task that is the responsibility of various actors, including the police, regulatory offices, fire brigades and aid organizations.

The meeting of the cultural, education and finance committee on June 4, 2025 will deal in detail with the results of the security survey and the planned measures to improve security in Aalen. The city faces the challenge of strengthening the subjective feeling of security of the citizens and at the same time reacting to the real dangers and threats in urban rooms.

For more information on the topics of urban security and crime prevention, please visit Soztheo.de and bpb.de .