Ravensburger Bahnhof: Video surveillance and new security concepts required!

Ravensburger Bahnhof: Video surveillance and new security concepts required!

The security situation at Ravensburg train station has been a topic of discussion and increasing concern for years. With this decision to introduce video surveillance, a long-held wish of the city administration is now coming true. After numerous incidents, including violent clashes and criminal offenses, the pressure on those responsible has increased. The killing of a woman on the train station forecourt in 2021 in particular stirred up the city administration, even if this did not lead to the station being classified as a crime hotspot. However, fights involving some heavily armed participants have once again brought the escalation of violence into the spotlight in recent months. According to Schwäbische, the digital surveillance was approved after several group brawls in February to improve the security situation.

The CDU city councilor Rolf Engler has also called for the overall concept for the station area to be reconsidered. He describes the area as a “social hotspot” and has brought into play the possibility of providing care and accommodation away from the bus stops. An approach that has already achieved success in a similar form in Friedrichshafen. Engler is also thinking about re-establishing the station mission, as implemented in Friedrichshafen in 2022, to strengthen the social infrastructure around the station.

The concerns of passengers

The unsettled passengers report an increasingly heated atmosphere at the station. They are constantly confronted with fights and unpleasant situations. Bernd Hasenfratz, managing director of the bodo transport association, emphasized the need for video surveillance as a central component for improving security. Wochenblatt reports that not only the passengers, but also the bus staff have to regularly call the emergency number because the situation at the Ravensburg bus station is perceived as tense. Passengers often wait at a safe distance from the stops in order to avoid possible bullying and arguments.

Employees of the transport association also confirm that police and ambulances often have to be called out. The unsafe situation means that Ravensburg train station is classified as a “no-go area” by many – especially people with disabilities, as Franz Erwin Kemper from the passenger advisory board explains.

Video surveillance – a step in the right direction?

While the introduction of video surveillance is seen as a step towards improving the security situation, there are those who point out the mixed results of such measures. According to research results, an average reduction in crime of 21 percent was recorded in monitored areas, although success varies greatly depending on the area of ​​operation. In city centers and local public transport, the results show only minor successes, while significant reductions in thefts were found in car parks. This suggests that a differentiated view of video surveillance is necessary.

The question remains whether digital surveillance can actually provide the security hoped for. It is important that, in addition to monitoring, a comprehensive care concept for the station area is developed to improve and secure the area. This is the only way to create a positive environment for passengers and residents in the long term.