Lydie Polfer: “The increased police presence helped”

A “satisfactory” conclusion: On Tuesday morning at City Breakfast, the traditional monthly press event for the city of Luxembourg, Lydie Polfer (DP) welcomed the increased police presence that has been observed in the capital since mid-January. The mayor emphasized that this visible presence had led to a further calming of the public space.

Polfer was satisfied with the progress of the security operations, although “improvements are still possible”. “The goal is not to impose fines, but rather to practice prevention,” she emphasized. She recalled that 886 people were checked in four months, as the police recently announced. According to the mayor, a large number of the new police officers who were hired nationally in May will be deployed in the city.

Lydie Polfer also assured that aggressive begging has disappeared in the city: “You just have to look around. I hope it stays that way.” This observation is also shared by the prevention and mediation service “A vos côtés”, said the first lay judge, Maurice Bauer (CSV).

Those responsible in the capital decided at the end of February not to re-tender the contract with the private security companies. However, they will continue to be used in city center parks.

Polfer: “Drug trafficking has moved to the upper city”

Regarding the different assessments on the legality of simple begging, the mayor said that she is waiting for clarification on this issue. The repressive phase was initiated on January 15th.

The situation in the train station district was also addressed on Tuesday morning. At the beginning of February, a demonstration took place in the train station district demanding more security. “I spoke to Ms. Gillen (founding member of the WhatsApp group Bahnhofsviertel – Safety & Cleanliness, editor’s note) and there are improvements,” says Lydie Polfer.

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But the police presence alone does not solve everything, the mayor admitted and demanded that the various actors (police, judiciary, social services) should work more together. “We find unacceptable situations every day,” said Lydie Polfer, referring to the drug trade in the Bahnhofsviertel. This “has not improved and has even shifted to the upper city”.

This text originally appeared at “Comma”. Translation and editing: David Thinnes