Berlin Kiez at a 'Tipping Point' Amid Rising Crime and Drug Use

Residents of Berlin's Kurfürstenkiez are voicing urgent concerns over a deteriorating quality of life, citing a significant increase in drug-related crime and unpredictable behavior. Sulaf Ahmed, who operates two Rewe supermarkets in the area, described a reality of "women on the street, open drug scene, littering, shouting and violence." He noted that while street prostitution has always existed, the past year and a half has seen a surge in individuals with severe drug dependencies, leading to frequent thefts and a palpable sense of fear among his staff, particularly during evening and morning hours.

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Many live on the street, are drugged and very unpredictable.

A family father shared at a recent neighborhood meeting that his children, aged seven and twelve, are no longer allowed to go to the stairwell alone due to regular break-ins by strangers into their apartment building and underground garage. He expressed a simple desire for "more security in the neighborhood." A 65-year-old resident, who has lived near the Zwölf-Apostel-Kirche for three years, observed a rise in drug crime, with dealers openly approaching children, necessitating parental escorts to school. She stated that many, especially women, fear going out at night and wished for a greater police presence, likening the drug trade in the neighborhood to a "flea market."

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I don't even let my children aged seven and twelve go into the stairwell alone anymore.

In response to the escalating situation, the CDU faction in the Tempelhof-Schöneberg district assembly called for an "immediate offensive for security and cleanliness" in the Kurfürstenkiez, warning that the area is at a "tipping point." Their proposals include a ban on street prostitution, reclassifying the neighborhood as a "crime-ridden location" to increase police patrols, enhanced street cleaning, and expanded support services for sex workers. They also advocate for better cooperation between police and public order offices to enforce existing prostitution bans near schools and playgrounds, and for regular checks on registrations under the Prostitute Protection Act.

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Drug crime is increasing. Dealers approach children, so they are often accompanied by parents to school.