Erfurt (dpa/th) – The state chairman of the German police union in Thuringia, Jürgen Hoffmann, has criticized the federal government’s energy saving regulation, which has been in force since Thursday. Hoffmann explained that if public buildings and monuments were no longer allowed to be illuminated at night, the risk of vandalism and burglaries would increase. In addition, the lighting of buildings also helps people find their way “and last but not least the rescue helicopter.” From the point of view of the police, lit towns are to be rated as significantly safer than unlit ones.
In addition to the potential risk of property damage, the fact that advertising systems are to be switched off at night should also increase the risk of burglaries, said Hoffmann. The legislature has also recognized this and allowed the exception here that reasons of public security can override this ban. “However, it should be interesting to see how the dispute between the individual companies or the authorities is conducted and how it ends, which reasons of public safety are recognized and which are not.”
