Munich's Botanical Garden: From uncertainty to new living space!

Munich's Botanical Garden: From uncertainty to new living space!

The Old Botanical Garden in Munich, long a place of concern due to acts of violence and drug dealing, has been undergoing a remarkable transformation since autumn 2024. The city of Munich and the Free State of Bavaria have joined forces to improve safety in the park, which is now showing visible success. How Picture According to reports, the garden was previously a hotspot for rape and harassment, causing many women to avoid the park.

The situation was more than stressful for residents and business people. Christian Lehner, head of the “Park Café”, expressed concern about daily threats. But the tide seems to be turning. As part of the measures decided last year, the Munich police joined a task force that is intensively involved in solving and controlling crime in the garden. More CCTV cameras and regular patrols by mounted police have been implemented to finally make the park a welcoming place for families and visitors again.

New security measures are having an effect

A variety of measures have been taken to increase security. This includes the installation of video cameras and mobile surveillance units that are specifically active at the Neptune Fountain. The cutting back of trees and bushes is now ensuring better lines of sight, and 550 people were checked in August, with 170 evictions issued and 14 suspected drug dealers arrested BR reported. The return of playing children and positive feedback from families confirm the positive developments in the garden.

Even Mayor Dieter Reiter and Prime Minister Markus Söder are satisfied. Reiter emphasizes that the quality of stay has increased significantly, while Söder is calling for similar measures for other endangered places.

Critical incidents and challenges

However, despite the positive news, the security situation is not without challenges. There was recently a fatal attack on a man in the park, which once again put residents on alert. According to the report, the 30-year-old main suspect, who was already known to the police in the past, was arrested in Düsseldorf. The public prosecutor's office is investigating bodily harm resulting in death, which illustrates the precarious situation in the park.

The Old Botanical Garden has made many negative headlines in recent years, but current measures show that change is possible. In a country where crime trends are often difficult to assess, the city can play a pioneering role. According to police crime statistics, there were a total of 5.84 million crimes in 2024, a decrease of 1.7% compared to the previous year. Even if certain groups of crimes such as rape are reported less often, the feeling of security remains tense in many regions, including Munich. Police will continue to be called upon to provide safety and security to citizens, particularly in places that have historically been considered dangerous.