The Kottbusser Tor in Berlin-Kreuzberg is a place of contrasts—home to vibrant nightlife and a neighborhood of poverty, drugs, and violence. A new police station was built to curb the high crime rate. Has it succeeded?
A complex environment for policing
Kottbusser Tor, located in Berlin’s Kreuzberg district, is both a bustling party spot and a residential area marked by significant social challenges. The area is infamous for its high crime rate, with incidents of assault, sexual harassment, and robbery occurring frequently. When the Berlin police opened a new substation at Kottbusser Tor a year and a half ago, many hoped it would bring about a significant reduction in crime.
Café Kotti, a well-known establishment in the area, now shares its building with this police station. Café owner Ercan Yaşaroğlu, who has operated his café in the “Zentrum Kreuzberg” complex for years, witnesses the police in action daily. He describes how he regularly sees suspected drug dealers being handcuffed and taken away, only to be released shortly after. “Yesterday, this man was already arrested,” Yaşaroğlu remarks calmly, noting that “in half an hour, the dealer will be back on the streets.”
Impact on crime and community perceptions
Kottbusser Tor is a central hub of Turkish life in Berlin, simultaneously serving as a living area and a popular spot for nightlife. However, it is also a place deeply affected by poverty, drug abuse, and violence. When Yaşaroğlu first heard about the plans to establish a police station next to his café, he feared it would deter his traditionally left-leaning and migrant clientele, potentially leading to the gentrification of the neighborhood. However, these fears have not materialized. Instead, Yaşaroğlu jokingly refers to his café as the “safest café in Berlin,” acknowledging the sense of security that the police presence has brought to the area. “Fear used to dominate Kottbusser Tor,” he says. “Today, children play outside until late in the evening.”
According to Yaşaroğlu, the police station has made a difference, especially for people with immigrant backgrounds, who feel more acknowledged by the authorities. “For years, the politicians left us alone with the crime,” he says. The station has reduced the number of drug addicts in the building’s stairwells and elevators, decreased incidents of sexual violence, and provided victims of theft or violence with immediate access to police assistance.
Karsten Stephan, the police director in charge of the “Kotti-Wache,” also views the station as a success. He proudly shows off the modern facilities, describing them as an “exemplary model.” The station operates with three to four officers on each shift, enabling quick response times. Stephan reports an unprecedented number of arrests made “in the act” since the station opened. Kottbusser Tor is one of seven “crime-ridden areas” in Berlin, where police have broader powers to conduct checks without specific cause. Stephan explains that the rise in reported crimes in the first year of the station’s operation was expected, as increased police presence “sheds light on the dark areas” and engages people who previously had little contact with law enforcement. The primary goal of increasing the public’s sense of security has been achieved, he asserts, noting that everything “in the station’s line of sight” is now “tip-top.”
Ongoing debate and need for broader solutions
Despite these improvements, not everyone is satisfied. Some residents and business owners feel that the changes have been superficial. A worker at a local restaurant comments that while theft and violence no longer happen directly in front of his establishment, these activities have simply moved to nearby streets. He dismisses the police station as a “waste of money,” pointing out that the area remains dirty, with the pervasive smell of urine due to the limited number of public toilets.
The police station’s construction, which cost 3.5 million euros, has been particularly controversial given the Berlin Senate’s budget cuts to social projects. Wolfgang Moser, a resident of the building complex and an elected member of the tenants’ council, argues that if this amount had been spent on social measures, the community would be in a much better position. He criticizes the Senate for allocating only a one-time fund of 250,000 euros for social projects, calling it an “unequal distribution of resources.”
Moser also points out that the number of police reports is not a true indicator of the residents’ quality of life. He believes the police presence is only part of the solution and that more needs to be done. The area requires additional overnight and shelter facilities for drug addicts, more public toilets, and better lighting in the complex’s labyrinthine corridors. While the relevant authorities in the Senate and district recognize these needs, the planning and implementation of this “holistic concept” are still in progress, even a year and a half after the station’s opening. Funding for some of the necessary measures remains uncertain.
Café owner Yaşaroğlu hopes that political leaders will reach an agreement to continue supporting Kottbusser Tor, its businesses, and its residents. He believes this would also help reduce prejudices. “Far too often, crime in migrant neighborhoods is simply accepted by politicians,” he says. “But we want to live in safety too.” He points to Kottbusser Tor as proof of this desire.
