Hamburg CDU Proposes Ten-Point Plan to Combat Drug Scene and Crime

Hamburg's CDU opposition has unveiled a ten-point strategy aimed at tackling the city's drug problem and the deteriorating situation around the main train station. The proposal emphasizes increased police presence and a series of prohibitions, alongside a fundamental shift in addiction support services to focus on rehabilitation and reintegration.

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A situation has solidified around the main train station and in St. Georg that does justice neither to the people on site nor to the demands of our city.

CDU parliamentary group leader Dennis Thering described the conditions around the Hauptbahnhof and in the St. Georg district as "absolutely unacceptable," citing open drug use, visible drug dealing, public disorder, and recurring violence. The area has become a focal point for hundreds of individuals daily, leading to measures like the installation of fences and public amenities near a drug counseling center.

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The situation is absolutely unacceptable overall.

Christoph de Vries, a CDU Bundestag member, highlighted the compounding issues of drug addiction, homelessness, and mental illness in the area, noting a significant rise in crime. He reported that drug-related deaths in Hamburg reached 102 in 2024, placing the city second only to Berlin in per capita rates.

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What we are seeing is a mixture of drug addiction, homelessness, mental illnesses, but also organized crime.

Thering advocates for a permanent police presence and the expansion of weapons-free zones across St. Georg and into the city center. He also called for enhanced video surveillance to improve public safety and reclaim the area from becoming a "no-go zone." The CDU also aims to expedite legal proceedings against drug dealers and their networks, while also addressing alcohol abuse.

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We want a permanent police presence.