Police: Numerous Vienna Police Stations Soon Closed for Public Access on Sundays
Starting in July, office hours on Sundays and public holidays will also be affected. These are to be significantly reduced. The State Police Directorate (LPD) confirmed on Friday afternoon the corresponding APA research on the new measures. "All 52 police stations that are not staffed for 24-hour public service will be included," said spokeswoman Anna Gutt.
Specifically, starting in July, almost two-thirds of the 81 stations in Vienna will be closed to the public on Sundays and public holidays, with reports only possible at 29 locations. "There is still the possibility on Sundays and public holidays to visit the police stations that are open around the clock for public concerns," said Gutt.
Due to positive experiences from the trial operation of the restricted public service since October 2023, the measures are now being extended to Sundays and public holidays, "to focus even more intensively on the actual needs of the population and to continue to focus on the core area of police tasks, the executive field service," said Gutt. The need for all 81 stations to be open around the clock for citizens is "no longer present to this extent," it was stated. Citizens will also be informed via notices about the nearest open police station on weekends.
Vienna police had tightened the budget for night operations during the week in 2023
Previously, the State Police Directorate had tightened the budget for night operations during the week in October 2023. Since then, public service for personal reports and other citizen services is only possible in 29 stations in Vienna from 7:00 PM to 7:00 AM. Measures for Sundays and public holidays were already close to implementation last spring according to APA research, but the plans were scrapped shortly before introduction at that time.
This March, significant cuts in overtime and other cost factors were finally made public according to an APA report. The regional police directorate referred to the Ministry of the Interior at that time. There, the cuts were justified with the interim budget provision that was in effect.
"Police Austerity Measures a Security Risk for Our City"
The head of the Vienna FPÖ, Dominik Nepp, criticized on Friday evening. "These police austerity measures are a security risk for our city," he stated in a release directed at the ÖVP-led Ministry of the Interior and at city leader Michael Ludwig (SPÖ). He wanted to "protest against this madness with all available means," said Nepp.
Prior to this, staff representatives had already expressed their frustration. "The nightly station closures in October 2023 were sold to us by the regional police president as a relief," said police unionist Walter Strallhofer, chairman of the staff representation in Vienna in the afternoon. "By temporarily closing certain stations, the tasks are transferred to other colleagues." This leads to an additional burden on the remaining inspections and once again underscores the tense personnel situation. Furthermore, far fewer police officers are on duty in Vienna on Sundays and public holidays. Not least, it can happen that stations remain closed for up to 72 hours if, for example, a Sunday follows the three Christmas holidays, criticized Strallhofer.
The chairman of the Christian Unionists (FCG) in Vienna, Gerhard Zauner, on the other hand, demanded to "finally come clean with the colleagues." The cuts were sold as a "relief measure due to the upcoming holiday season," said Zauner. "I do not believe that this is the true reason," explained the deputy chairman in the specialist committee in Vienna. "I consider it a cost-saving measure due to the budgetary situation."
(APA/Red)
This article has been automatically translated, read the original article here.