Luxembourg City mayor urges government action on police and judicial staffing shortages

On Tuesday morning, Luxembourg City Mayor Lydie Polfer spoke with our colleagues from RTL Radio, a day after the municipality's New Year reception.

Polfer expressed support for the increased police presence in the capital, noting that the introduction of a local police unit six months ago has helped boost police visibility in public spaces. While she acknowledged the improvements, the mayor emphasised that "it's not enough."

She also raised concerns about the lack of adequate follow-up within the judicial system. Quoting Prosecutor General Martine Solovieff, who described the situation as "dire", Polfer highlighted that only one-third of cases are prosecuted, while two-thirds are dismissed. "In 2023, out of 2,177 cases, 1,500 were immediately dismissed," the mayor said, adding that 33 positions remain vacant in the courts.

This shortage of judicial staff, Polfer argued, fosters a "perceived feeling of impunity"–both for those who commit crimes and for the public witnessing these dismissals. The justice system, she said, is now limited to handling "big priority cases," such as those involving the financial sector. While she agreed that these cases are important, Polfer warned that other forms of everyday crime are being neglected. "Something absolutely must be done about this," she concluded.

Returning to the launch of local police units in Luxembourg City and Esch-sur-Alzette, Mayor Polfer emphasised the importance of maintaining a visible police presence, which she argued has a preventive effect. She pointed to the recent Christmas market in Luxembourg City as an example, noting that the municipality had set up designated police containers on Place d'Armes. "I'm pleased to say that nothing happened. There were no major problems," Polfer remarked.

Currently, the local police are primarily active in the Ville-Haute, Gare, and Bonnevoie neighbourhoods, due to staffing constraints. Polfer acknowledged that some crime has shifted to other areas, particularly on trams and at tram stops. However, she reassured the public that the police are "reactive" and intervene when necessary. "The police go where they see there are problems," she said. But with more personnel, Polfer believes more could be done. She called on the government "to continue along this path" and to train more police officers, acknowledging that this process takes time and "cannot be done overnight."

Reflecting on the impact of the begging ban, which came into force a year ago, Polfer stated that the situation has "really improved a lot." She reiterated that the ban does not target "normal people asking for a little something" and assured that such individuals "are left alone." The primary focus of the measure, she said, has been on addressing "aggressive" begging "from the outset."