The Budapest police chief has offered support in setting up a civic guard association as part of existing cooperation with the Budapest Jewish Community, the Budapest Police Headquarters (BRFK) said on its website on Monday.
Police ready to support the Jewish community
Tamás Terdik said that at meetings with Róbert Frölich, the Chief Rabbi, and another Jewish representative in the inner 7th district, he offered support to establish a civic guard in Erzsébetváros, commonly known as the party district.
He said the police presence was being enhanced, especially from Thursday to Saturday, and the district commissioner’s office (on Wesselényi Street – DNH), which opened in January this year, will be open until dawn on these nights, with officers who speak foreign languages taking reports.
Crime prevention and ensuring law and order in public areas is the main purpose of the enhanced operations, and police will take action against violent, disorderly and drug-related crimes, against dangerous road users, as well as checking entertainment venues.
Overtourism, garbage, homeless people
Rabbis Róbert Frölich and György Szabó are planning to establish a civic guard association in Erzsébetváros after recognising that nobody else was addressing the worsening public safety concerns in the downtown district. In just two days, more than 50 locals from diverse backgrounds responded to their call, reported index.hu.
Their decision was driven by challenges such as overtourism, homelessness, widespread litter, and a growing number of daily irregularities. The new civic guard association is set to launch in September or October.
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The party district is a bonafide tourist attraction of Budapest. Not many cities in Europe have anything close to the lively nightlife Budapest has. I wouldn’t want to live in that area but it is a great place to go out to in the evening. I haven’t seen more homeless people in that district than other areas and I don’t see what these rabbis expect any “home guard” to do about homeless people, overtourism or litter. Could they be a little more specific about “daily irregularities”. We are not mind readers. The only thing these 50 volunteers can do is report any criminal activity to police and that is perhaps helpful but that is something anyone on the street can do as well. There is a police presence there and that is always welcome. These rabbis are not going to be able to stop people from having a good time on their night out.
LICHI’IM!