Görlitzer Park in Berlin Closes at Night – Police Anticipate Trouble
Berlin – Starting Sunday evening at 10 PM, Görlitzer Park will close its gates at night – but instead of peace, new conflicts are looming. The Police Union (GdP) is already warning that the security service will not be able to solve the problems. If not enough personnel are provided, police officers will have to step in again. And protests are already announced for the very first night.
The GdP sharply criticized: The public order office and the security service are overwhelmed with the expected confrontations. Particularly explosive: Initiatives plan to demonstrate on Sunday evening, the first night of the controversial measure.
“Rocket Flares”
The initiatives want to show their protest loudly, announced the Görli 24/7 alliance. Speeches, a concert, and protests directly at the park entrances are planned. An appeal stated: “Rocket flares. So get ready and watch out for fireworks.”
There has long been open dispute between the Senate and the district. The Green-led district office of Friedrichshain-Kreuzberg had clearly positioned itself: “The district office continues to consider this measure to be wrong symbolic politics.” The nightly closure would only shift existing social problems to adjacent streets and neighborhoods, instead of solving them sustainably. However, the Senate pushed through the construction of the entrance gates against the will of the district – and now also wants to enforce the nightly closure from Sunday evening at 10 PM.
Private Security Service Deployed
Environmental Senator Ute Bonde (CDU) announced the details on Thursday: A private security service will close and open the gates. At night, security forces will patrol the park and ask people to leave. If necessary, they will inform the public order office or the police. Officials hope that the closure will provide better opportunities to combat drug dealing and other crimes.
The GdP criticized the approach, stating that the private security service is not adequately equipped to handle the complex issues prevalent in the park. “This is not a task for private security. This is a task for the police, and we need sufficient resources to address the underlying problems, not just displace them,” said a GdP spokesperson.
Long-Standing Issues and Public Debate
Görlitzer Park has been a focal point of public debate in Berlin for several years, primarily due to drug-related crime and safety concerns. Residents and politicians have called for various measures to improve the situation, leading to the controversial decision to close the park at night. Critics argue that the closure will not solve the root causes of the problems but merely shift them to surrounding areas, potentially increasing crime in residential neighborhoods.
The district of Friedrichshain-Kreuzberg has consistently opposed the nightly closure, advocating for social work and prevention programs instead of restrictive measures. However, the Senate, citing public safety, has pressed ahead with the plan, emphasizing the need for immediate action.
Protests and Future Outlook
The announced protests highlight the deep divisions within the city regarding the park’s future. Activists and local residents fear that the closure will restrict public access to green spaces and criminalize marginalized groups without offering sustainable solutions. The Görli 24/7 alliance has vowed to continue its resistance, arguing that the park should remain accessible to all citizens around the clock.
The situation in Görlitzer Park is seen as a test case for urban security policies in Berlin. The effectiveness of the nightly closure and the ability of the private security service to manage potential conflicts will be closely watched. The GdP’s warning suggests that police resources may ultimately be required, despite the initial deployment of private security.
Further developments, including the impact of the closure on crime rates in the park and surrounding areas, as well as the ongoing public debate, are expected in the coming weeks and months. The city government faces the challenge of balancing public safety concerns with the demand for open and accessible public spaces.
