NRW fights against clan crime: junk properties are punished!

NRW fights against clan crime: junk properties are punished!

North Rhine-Westphalia (NRW) has introduced new measures to combat junk properties under pressure from criminal activity in the real estate sector. These dilapidated properties are often purchased by criminal clans and rented out to socially disadvantaged people at excessive prices. The authorities in the Ruhr area should now take decisive action against these abusive practices.

An initial success has already been achieved in Gelsenkirchen when the city took an active role in clarifying and combating junk properties. The need for such measures is not new; The North Rhine-Westphalian authorities have been dealing with this problem for almost two decades. The purchase of problem houses in Gelsenkirchen is part of a comprehensive strategy to either build or renovate around 3,000 apartments.

Cooperative approaches against clan crime

In order to curb clan crime, the NRW Ministry of Construction has joined the Ruhr Security Cooperation (SiKo Ruhr). This initiative, which has been active since June 2020, brings together the Ministry of the Interior, state and federal police as well as 36 Ruhr area municipalities and other institutions. Their goal is to both ensure the quality of life of the residents and to dismantle the criminal structures in the region.

State Secretary Daniel Sieveke (CDU) emphasizes the urgency of these measures: “Exploitation through poor pay, undeclared work and unreasonable living conditions is illegal and damages the social fabric of communities.” The clans not only benefit from the dilapidated buildings, but also illegally receive social benefits for people who do not live there or do not even exist.

Concrete measures and challenges

The problem with junk properties is manifested by serious defects such as leaky roofs, dilapidated stairwells, moisture damage and mold. The cities of Gelsenkirchen and Dortmund have already taken measures to combat these living conditions. Gelsenkirchen's mayor Karin Welge (SPD) emphasizes that the demolition of such buildings also helps to remove illegal structures and enforce the legal framework.

The city has received funding of 15 million euros from the state of North Rhine-Westphalia to promote the modernization and demolition of junk properties. Despite this support, authorities often face legal hurdles that make it difficult to demolish such buildings.

In summary, it can be said that the North Rhine-Westphalia state government is determined to combat the grievances in the area of ​​junk real estate and to improve the living conditions of the affected residents. Efficient cooperation between different institutions and active measures at the local level could pave the way to a better living environment and significantly reduce the influence of criminal clans.

Current developments and further information on this topic can be found in the reports from Mercury and Antenna NRW.