Overview
- Residents and shopkeepers held protests this week to demand more police presence after reporting a rise in open drug use, thefts and violent incidents that have made parts of the Kurfürstenkiez feel unsafe.
- The local CDU faction has called for a 'Sofort‑Offensive für Sicherheit und Sauberkeit' that would reclassify the area as a criminally burdened site, increase police patrols, ban the street‑strich and step up checks under the Prostituiertenschutzgesetz.
- Opponents including Hydra and other social services say a Sperrbezirk or bans would push sex workers and people who use drugs into illegality and make outreach and health services harder to reach.
- Campaigners also rallied to defend Café Olga after its lease was terminated; the centre provides meals, counselling and medical help to dozens of sex workers daily and staff warn its loss would worsen harm on the streets.
- The dispute has become a political flashpoint ahead of regional elections with the CDU pressing for immediate measures and coalition partners such as the SPD calling a ban symbolic and likely to reduce, not improve, protection.