As part of the “TOGETHER.SAFE with our police” initiative, the now proven “Coffee with Cops” campaign started in the summer. In October, a focus was set and more individual actions were carried out in all districts.
“People come together by talking,” as the saying goes. The latest campaign by the citizen participation initiative GEMEINSAM.SICHER “Coffee with Cops” is based on exactly this very Austrian idea. The idea: Have a coffee with a police officer from the region and chat at eye level and in a relaxed atmosphere – about security, problems or even everyday things. The aim of this campaign was to go out to the citizens and talk to them apart from specific official acts. 54 actions in October, 1200 conversations The primary aim was to identify any problems in security matters and to obtain feedback. At the same time, inhibitions should be reduced, trust should be built and deepened, the feeling of security should be improved and, last but not least, the person behind the uniform should be gotten to know. In October, 54 actions were carried out in Tyrol with over 100 police officers, during which a total of around 1,200 interesting conversations – often over coffee – were held with citizens. The topics of conversation were mostly regional problems, general topics about traffic and criminal police, migration or there was interest in information about the police profession itself. “The opportunity to have a conversation with police officers outside of the official context, an official act or something similar was appreciated by The population has consistently perceived it positively and praised it several times,” says Martin Kirchler, head of the organization, strategy and enforcement office.
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