Davidwache Head Kay Strasberg: “We Don’t Turn a Blind Eye to Crime”
Hamburg, May 10 – One year ago, Kay Strasberg took over as the head of the Davidwache police station on the Reeperbahn, arguably Germany’s most famous police precinct. Located in the heart of St. Pauli’s red-light district, amidst sex shops, clubs, and bars, it’s a unique workplace. “After a year here at the Davidwache, I feel absolutely settled in,” he states.
Community Engagement and the “Melting Pot” of the Kiez
Strasberg emphasizes that the integration process within the district is ongoing. He and his team are actively engaged with residents, visitors, and local associations. “I want to maintain and further intensify the police’s networking with other partners in the district,” Strasberg underscores.
He describes Hamburg’s Kiez as a “melting pot of different milieus,” some of which society tends to categorize as marginalized groups. “We don’t have the so-called beautiful and rich living here in the Kiez, perhaps only a few.”
Among these marginalized groups are the homeless. Early in his tenure, Strasberg patrolled with the four neighborhood police officers of the Davidwache, whose work deeply impressed him. “I witnessed how they address the homeless by name, know their stories, sometimes their medical conditions, and communicate respectfully and on equal terms. That still gives me goosebumps.”
Strasberg clarifies that it is not the police’s goal or duty to remove the homeless from the streets. “For us, it’s important to be there for people with respect and to always point them to assistance programs.”
High Crime Rate Due to Density and Police Presence
Strasberg’s police career began at 19. Before leading the Davidwache, the Brandenburg native was an operations group leader for special forces (SEK), a company commander for riot police, and headed stations in Wandsbek and Bahrenfeld, where he was responsible for the Volksparkstadion and HSV as a passionate Liverpool fan.
The Davidwache is no ordinary police station. According to police crime statistics, St. Pauli records the second-highest number of crimes among all districts in central Hamburg. Strasberg attributes this to the high concentration of people in a relatively small area, who come for entertainment, and the increased police presence, especially on weekends, which leads to more reported incidents.
“We are bound by law and order and don’t turn a blind eye to crimes,” Strasberg asserts. His colleagues ensure their actions are always transparent and offer visitors tips to avoid potential trouble, such as friendly reminders about existing weapons bans and the prohibition of carrying glass bottles, which are frequently used as weapons.
“This is a very important point: to engage in regular dialogue so that trust is built, and people feel they can always approach the police, that they are a reliable point of contact,” Strasberg explains. However, from his experience, he also knows that not everyone likes the police, and it’s not always possible to engage with everyone as ideally as one might wish.
“What we don’t want is to turn the Reeperbahn into a ‘police zone.’ We have an increased standard of police presence and are visible and approachable on site.” He adds that they do not want to cordon off the Reeperbahn with police checkpoints. “That is not legally possible, and hardly anyone would understand it,” Strasberg clarifies.
Major Events and Personal Responsibility
Since taking office at the Davidwache, Strasberg has overseen major events such as the Schlagermove, attracting 400,000 fans, and the CSD parade.
“Living in these times and facing an abstract, yet heightened threat level, which at least subjectively did not exist in the past, is both an interesting challenge and a great deal of responsibility,” he reflects.
This also affects him personally. “While I still approach operations positively, I think an extra second: Have I considered everything? Am I doing justice to my police duties, and can I ensure a safe event experience?”
“I bear responsibility for my employees and am not immune to taking work home sometimes. One thing or another occupies me in the evenings, or even for several days or weeks,” Strasberg admits. He finds peace at home, cooking or spending time with his family.
Strasberg himself used to party on the Kiez. “In the 90s, the Kiez felt very different to me.” Back then, outside of gastronomy, there was only one place to buy alcohol. Today, with numerous kiosks along the entire mile, the availability of alcohol is much greater, he notes.
He no longer visits the Reeperbahn, which celebrates its 400th anniversary this year, privately. “Of course, I know I have a responsibility and am a role model for my colleagues, but there is no general Kiez ban or anything similar for police officers – not even for Davidwache employees.” However, an awareness of this is certainly present.
Source: tageblatt.de
