The Frankfurt police have finalized their plans for the no-gun zone in Frankfurt's Bahnhofsviertel.

According to this, people should no longer be allowed to carry knives or other dangerous objects between 9 p.m. and 5 a.m. in a clearly defined area.

With this proposal, police chief Stefan Müller is reacting to the increasing number of violent crimes in the area.

According to him, the number of cases in the now designated area has more than doubled in the past three years.

Catherine Iskandar

Responsible editor for the "Rhein-Main" department of the Sunday newspaper.

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Specifically, the ban should apply to "weapon-like, dangerous objects such as knives of any kind, unless they are already subject to the Weapons Act".

Also for "metal or sharp-edged or pointed objects that can be used as a striking, stabbing or thrown weapon".

Irritant spray devices, i.e. pepper spray, would also fall under the ban.

According to the police, the area in which the ban should apply extends between Mainzer Landstrasse in the north and Gutleutstrasse in the south, to the east the zone is limited by Weserstrasse and to the west by the main station.

With the time restriction from 9 p.m. to 5 a.m., the police want to ensure that “trades that are equipped with dangerous tools” are not affected by the regulation “and thus the legitimate interests of certain professional groups are protected”.

The police headquarters announced on Wednesday that the concerns of commuters and residents should also be taken into account in this way.

Police President Müller said he was convinced "that a weapon ban zone in the station area could make an important contribution to strengthening security in Frankfurt".

Knives, in particular, “far too often played a dangerous role in late-night skirmishes.

At a late hour and under the influence of alcohol, everything that is carried is often used.

The sooner weapons are seized, the better, that is direct victim protection”.

The number of violent crimes has increased

For the first time, the police have now also given figures on how many crimes in the station district are carried out with weapons.

Accordingly, "up to two-thirds of the violent crimes registered in the station area are committed" in the now designated zone.

In 2019 there were 102, in 2021 the police registered 239 cases.

In a large proportion of these, namely 211 offences, either a knife or tear gas was used.

According to the police analysis, the perpetrators are "mostly male, under 30 years old and their behavior towards passers-by and traders is conspicuous".

The police did not provide any further information such as places of residence, origin and possible criminal records.

Crimes such as robbery, physical harm, threats, coercion and "crimes against life" were also evaluated.

These rose from 454 in 2019 to 929 offenses in 2021. Robberies (136 cases) and assault (643 cases) clearly dominated last year.

No ban on glass bottles

The police meanwhile consider a ban on glass bottles and drinking glasses to be "not expedient", as this would be difficult to enforce given the gastronomy and retail trade in the district and, according to the law enforcement officers, would therefore not be effective.

Müller went on to say that the establishment of a gun ban zone was "not a panacea, but an additional and essential security component".

In addition, a gun ban zone in the station area would not extend the police's powers of intervention, which already exist due to the level of crime there.

Additional controls are not required.

According to the police, the gun ban zone should initially apply for a period of three years and then be evaluated.

The city has not yet commented on whether it would support such a no-gun zone.

Security department head Annette Rinn (FDP) is, according to her, “fundamentally not averse” to the project.

At the moment, however, talks are still being held on the subject with the parliamentary groups.