For more security

“Big Brother” monitors Wörgl for 72 hours

The recordings will then be collected by the city police.(Bild: Bildagentur Muehlanger)

Wörgl wants to ensure greater security in the future. That's why the police are keeping a close eye on neuralgic spots with modern cameras. However, the town's hands are tied at the federal school center in the west.

The eyelids of the first "video eye" are open: Mounted at a height of five meters, four cameras in a compact housing have a view of the end of the newly renovated meeting zone opposite the train station. "360 degrees are now visible. It is the first camera that has now been fully installed," explains Hannes Nöchler, commander of the municipal police in Wörgl. Together with his team, he is the "master of the images" - because the recordings come together in the offices of the law enforcement officers. He can even see four videos on his screen at the same time. "If anything criminal happens on them, the sequences are saved and sent to the federal police."

13 high-resolution surveillance cameras are planned.(Bild: Bildagentur Muehlanger)

Neuralgic intersections now get an eye
A whopping 13 high-resolution cameras are planned. "We have chosen neuralgic points. According to the criteria: Where does the most damage to property take place? Are there intersections where perpetrators have several escape routes?" emphasizes Mayor Michael Riedhart. In 2019, he already submitted a motion to the municipal council for more security: whether subjective or actual - that remains to be seen. The aim is to take an extremely sensitive approach, especially at locations in front of doctors' surgeries, nurseries and the like. "Private protection is very important here. The legal situation changed in 2018, making video surveillance more feasible," emphasizes Josef Stöckl, expert and data protection officer at Stadtwerke Wörgl.

We have selected neuralgic points and hope that this surveillance will also increase the sense of security.

Bürgermeister Michael Riedhart

The municipal police don't like to hear the word "Big Brother". "The sequences are legally stored for 72 hours on two strictly secured servers. Even the transmission takes place on a separate network," assures Klaus Kandler, Managing Director of Stadtwerke Wörgl - himself a qualified lawyer.

Surveillance should increase the sense of security
All those involved in the project suspect that there will be complaints from citizens in the future. But everything is clear with the data protection and federal authorities - the sign "Attention video surveillance!" is in place. "We hope that this surveillance will also increase the feeling of security," says Mayor Riedhart. Many older people kept approaching him. LED lighting in several arches will soon also illuminate the "promenade". With the help of lease and rental support from the city, small, cozy restaurants are set to make a comeback.

Klaus Kandler, Managing Director of Stadtwerke Wörgl.(Bild: Bildagentur Muehlanger)

Hands tied at the federal school center
However, the town's hands are tied when it comes to measures at the federal school center in the west. Youthful exuberance and vandalism can cause several tens of thousands of euros worth of damage a year. "There's nothing we can do technically," says Riedhart. The land in question is owned by the Bundesimmobiliengesellschaft.

Discussions have already taken place with the director there. However, it seems doubtful whether the federal government will soon open its "video eyes" at this neuralgic point.