Coffee, cake and security: police in dialogue with residents!

Coffee, cake and security: police in dialogue with residents!

Last Thursday, July 3rd, a remarkable meeting between residents and police officers took place at the “Bloom” café in the train station district of Luxembourg City. As part of the pilot project “Op e Kaffi mat der Police”, the police enable citizens to share their concerns and concerns in an open and relaxed setting. The event, which ran from 4 p.m. to 6 p.m., aimed to promote dialogue about public safety and create constructive exchanges between residents and law enforcement. According to Tageblatt, police chief Robert Bauler reported many constructive questions that came up from citizens.

The atmosphere during the meeting was both relaxed and serious. Residents expressed concerns, particularly about dirt from drug addicts and perceptions of unsafe housing. A local resident, Margaret Hicks, appealed to police about rubbish and drug waste piling up outside her garage. She sought advice on how to increase security in her home environment and received suggestions from officials, such as installing a jukebox with a sensor and black light as a deterrent.

Promoting exchange

Another goal of “Op e Kaffi mat der Police” is to clear up misunderstandings and make the work of the police transparent. First Chief Commissioner Gilles Zimmer emphasized the importance of taking residents' concerns seriously and encouraging them to discuss problems on an equal footing. The program involves police officers sharing their experiences, explaining their work and giving valuable advice. However, it is expressly made clear that these meetings are not intended to receive complaints or to deal with individual cases, as Lessentiel emphasizes.

Patrick Reisdorff, an active member of the Whatsapp group “Quartier Gare – sécurité & propreté”, spoke positively about the police and at the same time criticized the judiciary. He reported on his own experiences in which he had filed a criminal complaint against drug dealers but had not yet received any response. This reflects residents' general concerns about safety in their neighborhood. Despite the seriousness of the issues, the mood at the event remained positive as residents appreciated the initiative of the police.

Future of the initiative

The police plan to continue to carry out “Op e Kaffi mat der Police” at various locations in the station district in the future. The aim is to establish a continuous connection between residents and the police in order to work sustainably on improving public safety. Through this open exchange, the authorities hope to be able to respond to citizens' concerns at an early stage and to better understand the residents' needs.