Berlin or Kabul? Flip a Coin!

Berlin is well-known for its no-go zones, which police dare not enter except in large numbers. The following news report from German TV (via Politically Incorrect) is yet another installment in the ongoing chronicle of urban deterioration in Berlin.

The cop featured in the report has made an interesting decision: he wants to work in Afghanistan, which he thinks will be no more dangerous than Berlin.

Many thanks to Nicolai Sennels for the translation, and to Vlad Tepes for the subtitling:


See these previous posts about the culturally enriched no-go zones of Berlin: 2009, 2010, 2011.

A full transcript of the video is below the jump.

0:00		Many children dream of becoming an astronaut, train driver or policeman.
0:06		But for many of those who dreamed of becoming a policeman, the dream is becoming a nightmare
0:12		In the past the mere sight of a police uniform would make troublemakers flee.
0:18		Today it is still more often the police that need to flee.
0:22		According to the police, attacks on the police are more common than ever.
0:26		In the German town where the police are most often attacked, policemen from more than 60 nations are meeting at the European Police Conference.
0:38		In that particular city, Berlin, our reporter Anna Kürialeis is interviewing a police officer in his own working area.
0:44		For safety’s sake he is not wearing his uniform.
0:48		André Baudach is police chief. Last night we followed him at work in the Berlin neighbourhood Wedding.
0:58		Here there are areas were he would not wear his uniform if he is alone, he tells us.
1:04		Situations easily get out of control. Either they get beaten up or guns are involved.
1:16		The police therefore always work in large groups.
1:21		Drug dealers, pimps and youth gangs. Every night there is a lot to do. Often seemingly harmless situations become dangerous.
1:30		We were about to give a fine and then very soon we were surrounded by fifteen shouting people who told us to leave, since we were not really on German territory here.
1:47		This night he is working in connection with a demonstration by Leftists.
1:51		They are demonstrating against the police congress that is taking part in the city.
1:55		Everything is going smoothly. But again and again situations appear that are similar to these pictures.
2:02		The police are attacked with bottles and stones, sometimes even with fire.
2:07		Violence against the police is growing, says the Police Union, who want the politicians to react.
2:15		It is clear that we urgently need more police officers here in Berlin. We need tougher penalties for attacking the police.
2:23		Scientists disagree; tougher penalties will not help.
2:30		In general tougher penalties never help. It is a misbelief that there will be less crime if the penalties are tougher.
2:38		More police do also not help.
2:41		The only thing that helps is better education for the police officers, and that the police are more integrated into the neighbourhoods and society.
2:49		And that the police learn how to de-escalate conflicts.
2:54		The police cannot solve problems alone.
2:57		Working in problem areas, with demonstrations, trouble at soccer stadiums, Baudach has even been attacked with an iron pole.
3:06		He and his colleagues in other big cities often feel alone.
3:11		André Baudach has applied to work in Afghanistan.
3:14		He does not expect that it will be more dangerous that his working area in Berlin.
3:14		This is the way things have become.

For a complete listing of previous enrichment news, see The Cultural Enrichment Archives.