Security fears at St. Martin's parades: SPD calls for police clarity!

Security fears at St. Martin's parades: SPD calls for police clarity!

What's new in the Rhineland? The current discussion about the safety of St. Martin's parades is stirring up quite a bit of dust. The SPD district council faction expresses open doubts about the number of police personnel and therefore the security of these traditional events. She is calling for transparency and solutions after reports emerged that there were fewer police escorts for St. Martin's parades. So far, the information has mainly come from the municipalities on the right bank of the Rhine, which are under the supervision of the district police authority. What is worrying is that the Bonn police headquarters have confirmed that although there is no concrete threat situation in the municipalities on the left bank of the Rhine, there is an abstract threat at a high level.

In the neighborhood of Bornheim, Wachtberg, Königswinter and Bad Honnef, the police have to supervise over 200 St. Martin's parades. This impressive number shows how important the tradition of St. Martin's parades is for the region. However, there could be restrictions on smaller marches as not all of them are accompanied by the police. An official request to the district administration should clarify how communication is going between the police, municipalities and schools and what road safety measures are planned.

Security as a shared responsibility

Responsibility for security at large events lies not only with the police, but also with the organizers themselves. According to the Interior Ministry, they must ensure security concepts, especially if the events require more traffic than usual. provides insight into the legal framework the NRW Ministry of the Interior, which provides a framework for the planning, approval and implementation of such events. This orientation framework serves as a practical aid to increase safety and clarify responsibility.

When coordinating security measures, committees that are made up of different offices and authorities come into play. They check the necessary security concepts and ensure that the organizers have a central contact person to whom they can turn. This structured approach is intended to further improve safety at major events such as St. Martin's Day parades.

Looking back at difficult decisions

The recent incidents in neighboring districts such as Euskirchen have shown how quickly security discussions can flare up. In Brühl and Leverkusen train cancellations even had to be resorted to. Ultimately, the decision in Leverkusen was withdrawn after protests, while in Brühl three of 18 daycare centers canceled due to strict safety requirements. A look back shows that reporting on police protection at St. Martin's parades in the past was not always correct. In 2014, the Interior Minister described similar reporting as “definitely wrong” and caused uncertainty among many clubs and associations.

Now we can only hope that the current discussion about the St. Martin's Day parades does not lead to a widespread security dilemma. The SPD is right when it looks for solutions. Ultimately, the St. Martin's Day celebration should continue to be a safe and joyful event for children and families. Whether this is possible depends not only on the police authorities, but also on the committed cooperation of all those involved.