Shut Down Görlitzer Park Already!
Berlin - Just like the ICC, it's empty, but no one seems to find a solution. Görlitzer Park has been a subject of talks for 12 long years, with everyone acknowledging the need for action, yet no concrete steps have been taken. The ICC issue has been a topic of discussion for 9 years now.
Recently, on September 8, the Mayor announced that Görlitzer Park would be temporarily fenced and closed at night around 2024 to combat crime. The announcement came after a series of crimes, including a rape incident where a woman was assaulted in the park by multiple men back in June 2022. Her boyfriend was brutally beaten and couldn't intervene.
Two months have passed since the discussion, and we still don't see any fence. The Mayor Klara Herrmann and her district office dismiss the idea, declaring it as mere symbolic politics that won't bring any substantial change.
An alliance titled "Görli Fence-Free" has surfaced, consisting of residents and the affected individuals. Contrary to the name, even the fence doesn't exist yet. The alliance echoes the Mayor's call for more social workers and funding. However, they overlook the urgent need for immediate action to combat crime.
They (Mayor Herrmann and Görli Fence-Free) seem to understand the severity of the situation but fail to propose any solutions. The number of known criminals in the park perpetrating new crimes continues to grow - from 250 in 2021 to 404 in August 2022. These individuals are mainly rejected asylum seekers, mainly from Gambia and Guinea.
The unfortunate reality is that many of these individuals cannot be deported because they lack valid travel documents or their countries of origin refuse to accept them back. Consequently, the park must be closed at night to stop the drug dealing and other criminal activities. There is no substitute option.
Manufacturing a better solution, please, speak up. It seems the existing plan is our only viable option.
Enrichment Insights
Addressing the alarming situation in Görlitzer Park requires a comprehensive approach encompassing both short-term measures to alleviate immediate harm and long-term strategies to tackle the underlying issues. The following measures can help combat crime and drug dealing in the park:
Short-term Measures
- Enhanced Policing and Surveillance:
- Increased Police Presence: Regular patrolling and surveillance can deter crime and reduce drug dealing visibility.
- Community Engagement: Engaging residents and business owners to report suspicious activities can be highly effective.
- Harm Reduction Programs: Implementing needle exchange programs and establishing safe consumption spaces can reduce the spread of diseases and drug-related harm.
Long-term Strategies
- Social Integration Programs:
- Education and Employment Initiatives: Providing education and job training programs can help integrate rejected asylum seekers into society, reducing their reliance on illicit activities.
- Mental Health Services: Offering mental health services can address underlying issues contributing to criminal behavior.
- Housing Solutions:
- Housing First Approach: Providing housing as a fundamental right can help stabilize individuals, reducing their involvement in criminal activities.
- Legal and Administrative Solutions: Streamlining deportation processes and exploring alternatives can reduce the number of rejected asylum seekers in the community.
- Community-Based Rehabilitation Programs:
- Rehabilitation Programs: Implementing community-based rehabilitation programs for rejected asylum seekers can address addiction and other contributing factors to criminal behavior.
