Streetwatchers reclaim the streets in WeyheLearning Points The streetwatcher scheme in Weyhe has been a lot more successful than similar 'nightwatch' schemes elsewhere in Germany. According to Herr Grosser this is due to two factors:
The streetwatchers have learnt that the negative image of young people which is often shown in the media is generally not valid. In particular, when young people are treated as equals and are provided with support when they need it, they tend to react positively. However, the streetwatchers have also influenced young people to be more willing to comply with legal rules and to respect social conventions. Unlike the police, streetwatchers don’t take punitive action which intimidates young people; rather they use the power of persuasion, and the trust they have built up, to resolve conflicts before they escalate. Clearly, the streetwatchers are not an auxiliary police force – they operate rather as ‘friends and helpers’ of young people. While this has been a well-known slogan of the police in Germany, it has not always been credible – the streetwatchers have made it a reality. |
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Günther Meyer and Marcus Grosser wrote this case study for Governance International in October 2011. The case study was updated in October 2014. |