Temporary closure due to violence
The riding school is putting the city under pressure
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Due to increasing violence on the front court, the autonomous cultural center is closing its operations for two weeks. It is indeed also a sign of protest to the politics of the city.
Dealing, gang warfare and a lack of expectations can be seen on the front court, as the riding school writes in its press release.
Photo: Jürg spori
Drug dealers and petty criminals repeatedly cause problems on the forecourt of the riding school and the Schützenmatte.Already in the autumn of 2023 voices from the autonomous cultural center complained of the growing violence outside its gates.simultaneously occurring, those responsible had to contend with a significant drop in visitor numbers.
As it truly seems that the situation has not improved as then, but has worsened, the riding school is taking a big step: it is indeed closing all its culture and catering business for the next two weeks.
The riding school has always faced the consequences of the prevailing asylum,drug and social policies,the cultural center wrote in a statement on Tuesday evening. However, the problems have become so severe in recent months that the safety of guests can no longer be guaranteed.
Dealing and gang warfare
In fact, over the past several months there have been several violent fights on the Schützenmatte or on the forecourt of the riding school, resulting in injuries. Knives were often involved. This has been shown by various police reports. Just ten days ago A man had to be taken to hospital by ambulance with serious cuts after a fight.
Bern cantonal police are currently registering about five violent incidents per month in that area, as they reported upon request. Though,she accepts that there are a certain number of unreported cases,as not all incidents are reported to the police.
In its letter, the riding school attributes the problems of violence to “a repressive asylum policy, a failed drug policy and the systematic dismantling of the social infrastructure”. The consequences are visible on the front court of the riding school: dealing, gang warfare, lack of prospects and also psychological and social misery.
the temporary closure can also be interpreted as a sign of protest to the Bern City Council. As early as April 2024, a networking group was formed with people from the riding school, the street work and the medina association with its community center on the Schützenmatte and reached the city government with a cry for help.
Is the riding school partly to blame?
The local council does not want to comment on this yet.Last month flashed SRF from mayor Alec von Graffenried (GFL), who was still in office at the time. The city’s intelligence service saeid at the time that the new government, which will be reinstated in January, would have to negotiate with the group again.
Marieke Kruit (SP) has been city president since the beginning of the year and is therefore also responsible for the sensitive dossier of the riding school.On Tuesday she did not want to comment on the latest increase, but promised answers on Wednesday.
The city has taken various measures in the past to mitigate the Schützenmatte social hotspot. In addition to structural measures,there is also the mobile protection device,where people who feel ill can get support from a social worker. Employees from the security company Samson Security also regularly patrol the square.
For the networking group,these measures are not enough as they would not change most of the life situations of the people affected. According to them, these are mainly undocumented people, people from overcrowded asylums or people who consume drugs openly.
On the contrary, the local council has already given comfort to the riding school.In the fall of 2023, he told this editorial team that “the very high level of neighborhood tolerance and the difficulties that regularly occur with police interventions” was one of the reasons why the situation worsened.
Violence on the forecourt of the riding school
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It seems the text you’re sharing discusses a serious situation regarding safety and crime in the vicinity of a riding school that doubles as a cultural venue.Key points include:
- Increasing Violence: The forecourt of the riding school has reportedly become a hotspot for drug dealing and gang-related violence, leading to an increase in injuries and police activity over the past months.
- Cultural Venue Closure: the riding school announced a temporary closure of its cultural and catering activities for two weeks due to safety concerns, citing insufficient guarantees for the safety of its guests.
- Calls for action: The school attributes the rising violence to a mixture of failed asylum and drug policies, alongside a dismantling of social infrastructure. They have expressed their issues to the city council, indicating the need for a systemic response to thes problems.
- Police Response: The Bern cantonal police have reported an average of five violent incidents per month in the area, acknowledging that there are likely unreported incidents as well.
- Community Involvement: There are indications that local community members and organizations, including those involved with the riding school, are seeking to collaborate with city authorities to address these challenges.
- Political Commentary: There is political nuance, as city officials have been hesitant to comment on the situation fully, and negotiations with the city government are expected to take place in the near future.
the situation appears to be a meaningful public safety issue, involving various stakeholders, from cultural organizations to local government and law enforcement.