Against youth gangs

Great joy about the police’s “action sharp”

The focus campaigns are having an effect: the police are cracking down on Christian-Broda-Platz

(Bild: zVg)

Police are now getting serious at Christian-Broda-Platz. Executive deploys large contingent against gangs. Interior Minister: "The priority checks will be continued consistently."

In addition to Reumannplatz in Favoriten, Christian-Broda-Platz in Mariahilf is also a stronghold of violent youth gangs. Young people maraud here in the evening and at night, befuddled by alcohol and drugs. If it weren't so sad, it would almost be ironic that the thugs in this state also act as moral guardians and hunt down girls.

"You get spat at"
A local resident: "You're constantly accosted and insulted here. Being spat at and insulted is also the order of the day. Many people don't even dare to go outside at night."

The police respond to the roving groups of youths

(Bild: zVg)

Territory of the whip gangs
Christian-Broda-Platz is also the territory of the notorious whip gangs. Armed with belts, the youths go into battle. Then they hit each other and others with full force. Photos and videos of these violent excesses have been leaked to the "Krone" several times. Many local residents are now calling for a ban on weapons, drugs and alcohol, following the example of Reumannplatz.

Several officers at Christian-Broda-Platz in the evening.

(Bild: zVg)

Residents welcome first priority actions 
This is still a long time coming. However, the new task force to combat youth crime (EJK), which was recently set up by the Minister of the Interior and has already carried out its first priority actions in Vienna, is already bearing fruit.

"There are now many more police on the streets at night"
This is also perceived positively by the population. "There are now a lot more police on the streets at night. It was only at the weekend that several emergency vehicles drove up at night. That reassures me a lot," says the resident. And a neighbor adds: "It seems to me that there are fewer drug dealers and thugs now." And Minister Karner promises: "The priority checks in the area of youth crime will be consistently continued."