Thursday, December 18
This week, a photo of a tree in Hasenheide full of syringes was shared on Instagram, bringing it to the attention of authorities in Neukölln. The syringes have been removed from the trunk at the instruction of the Public Order City Council.
Now another inspection has occurred in the vicinity, during which more syringes were discovered on a tree nearby. The district town councillor has said that this pattern does not seem to be accidental or a sign of negligent disposal. Instead, he describes it as an “intentional action with unclear motives”.
Another so-called drug tree was spotted in Kreuzberg’s Gneisenaustraße in August. The unsafe disposal of syringes continues to be a problem for the authorities, especially in the north of Neukölln.
The district’s social councillor, Hannes Rehfeldt (CDU), stated, “Unlike in other districts also burdened by the use of illegal drugs, there is not one or a few focal points in Neukölln. Due to the high mobility of the consumer scene and constantly changing places of consumption and trade, the entire north is affected.”
In recent years, the district has installed special syringe-dropping containers in various green areas, where syringes can be safely disposed of without being removed.
