Siegfried Lieske, Deputy Mayor of Göttingen in charge of youth, schools and order
The city of Göttingen has recently joined the European Forum for Urban Security. What motivated you?
We believe that in the upcoming years and decades, urban security matters will become more important and complex. Apart from the on-going cooperation we already have with different local institutions, it is important for the city of Göttingen to engage in continuous and highly professional exchanges with other cities in Germany and in Europe. It is also important to debate about security issues at the European level. This is only possible within a well positioned and largely recognised network. Last but not least, our experience of implementing European projects together with Efus over the past few years have made the decision to join Efus quite easy.
What does networking among cities at a European level bring to Göttingen?
Networking provides a great opportunity to exchange opinions, agree on common positions and present requests to the European institutions. Also, the regular exchange of experiences with decision makers of other cities brings invaluable benefits.
What is the main focus of prevention in Göttingen? How is it organised and how are citizens involved in it?
One focus is the “Social and spatial Prevention In Networks” (SPIN, implemented in Göttingen as one of the pilot projects being led in Germany, in cooperation with the Niedersachsen Crime Prevention Council, or LPR according to the German acronym). SPIN follows the “Communities that care” approach that has been developed in the USA. It addresses problematic behaviour among young people in areas such as violence, crime, alcohol and drug abuse, school drop out, teen pregnancies, depressions and fears through a coalition-based prevention operating system.
Citizens are involved in prevention programmes through the association for prevention in Göttingen „komm.pakt e.V.“, as well as through the city Crime Prevention Council.
What experiences in local prevention are you most interested to share with your European colleagues? In which areas would you like to learn more about what they are doing?
In addition to the above-mentioned activities, we have also experiences that might be transferable, for example on ”drinking scenes“ or “reoffending“.
What is your favourite crime prevention project? Which results has it achieved?
As another example I would like to mention the project „Go Willi“. It makes use of a street working approach to prevent violence in public places. The project has had a very positive impact and has brought peace in and around the central square of the city, Wilhelmsplatz. „Go Willi“ was implemented on behalf of the city of Göttingen by the youth support association, Jugendhilfe Göttingen e.V., and was evaluated by the association ZOOM e.V..
What should be avoided in local prevention activities?
Local prevention can only be successful if it is goal-oriented, rather than conceived and implemented according to competences and jurisdictions. The city, justice, police, civil society and many others actors have to cooperate in a result-driven approach.
What are the main topics would you like to address in the near-future in Göttingen?
The theme of youth is a priority. We would like to work on this theme as quickly as possible, with our coalition based (social and space oriented) prevention programme. The „SPIN-project“, which I have briefly mentioned earlier, is a step forward.
What do you expect from the European Forum?
The Forum is a platform for joint initiatives and regular exchanges, which will help us improve urban security in Göttingen.
