How safe is it in the city where we live, and how do we deal with it?

The police in Schwerin have designated the Marienplatz (a square in the city center) as a so-called “Kriminalitätsschwerpunkt” (crime hotspot), because several serious criminal offenses occur there every day.

• Physical violence: Especially at night and on weekends, violent crimes occur, such as fights and assaults.
• Theft: Due to the many shops on and around Marienplatz, there is a high incidence of shoplifting and pickpocketing.
• Vandalism and property damage: Damage to property is a common problem in the square.
• Drug offenses: Violations of drug laws occur regularly.
• Nuisance caused by groups of young people: The police and public order office monitor gatherings, underage alcohol consumption, and other forms of disturbances.

Recently, there has been a lot of attention on stabbings in Schwerin, especially after the fatal incident on February 4, 2025, near the Schlosspark-Center, where a 17-year-old boy died from multiple stab wounds. This incident received extensive media coverage and led to a large-scale search for the perpetrator. Police and news reports from the past months also mention various violent incidents, such as fights, threats, the use of pepper spray or batons, and stabbings. There have been reports of disputes and physical violence in the city center and neighborhoods like Mueßer Holz.

And it is starting to become so normal for us that we hardly even notice it anymore. The day before yesterday, there was another stabbing near Keplerplatz. Police with vans, preventive arrests, the whole works.

So, is it safe? Yes and no:

“Jein” is a German word that is a combination of “ja” (yes) and “nein” (no). It is used to indicate an uncertain or mixed answer, when someone means both yes and no, or when the answer depends on certain circumstances.

If you use your common sense and avoid certain places at certain times, because otherwise it’s almost asking for trouble. For that reason, we also can’t always take public transport in the evenings and really have to go by car, or pick each other up from a location where we have plans.

Do we always enjoy it this way: no. Because it’s not always safe and certainly doesn’t always feel safe. On the contrary. And that does affect us.