Surveillance cameras are being activated at Heilbronn's marketplace.

Heilbronn Introduces Video Surveillance on Market Square to Boost Safety

In a bid to enhance safety and the feeling of security in the city center, Heilbronn has introduced video surveillance on its market square. The high-resolution cameras transmit live footage to the command and situation center of the Heilbronn Police Headquarters for evaluation.

The initiative is part of the Secure Heilbronn concept, a partnership between the city and the police that has been in place since April 2023. Under this partnership, the authorities have been working together to combat crime and address public order issues.

Mayor Harry Mergel of Heilbronn welcomed the introduction of video surveillance as another component of the city's security architecture. Frank Spitzmüller, President of the Heilbronn Police Headquarters, shares Mergel's sentiment, believing that the video surveillance will contribute objectively to improving safety in the monitored area.

The video surveillance is active from Monday to Friday, 2:00 PM to 9:00 PM, and on Saturdays, 8:00 PM to 2:00 AM. The recordings are generally stored for 72 hours and then permanently deleted, unless required as evidence for the prosecution of relevant criminal offenses.

The city of Heilbronn bears the costs of the technical implementation of the video surveillance, while the personnel costs for ensuring video surveillance are borne by the Heilbronn Police Headquarters with the support of the External: Heilbronn Police Deployment.

The Secure Heilbronn concept includes measures such as increased police presence, targeted control measures, and banning street prostitution, among others. Additionally, the authorities have intensified their measures, including low-threshold measures such as evictions, bans on certain persons or groups, increased use of civilian police officers, and regular controls of the poser and speeding scene.

Despite the overall good security situation in Heilbronn, the number of registered crimes in the city center, particularly on the market square, has been increasing for several years. However, the positive statistical crime development in Heilbronn in 2024 indicates that the numerous police measures already in place are effective.

It's worth noting that the city of Heilbronn consistently ranks high in safety among large cities in Baden-Württemberg. The video surveillance system on the Heilbronn marketplace is financially supported by the city of Heilbronn. The police presence and collaboration also contribute, but explicit mention of other organizations financing it is not provided in the sources.

The close cooperation between the city of Heilbronn and the police has been strengthened over the past year, as evidenced by the signing of the cooperation agreement "Secure Heilbronn" on October 17, 2024. This agreement further cements the joint commitment to ensuring the safety and security of Heilbronn's citizens and visitors.