"Safety" and "cleanliness" are of paramount importance for the quality of life and well-being in a city. This is why Mayor Frank Klingebiel launched the "Salzgitter - safe and clean" project back in 2007 to strengthen urban order, safety and cleanliness with targeted measures.

Current social developments and challenges now require a consistent continuation, expansion and intensification of the measures introduced at the time. Recognized norms and rules of harmonious coexistence are being disregarded by parts of society. The general lack of consideration and ignorance of the applicable rules is growing. Examples of this are

• Garbage is carelessly disposed of in the environment,
• green spaces or public facilities are willfully damaged or
• municipal employees are attacked, insulted or threatened in the course of their work for the urban community.

These developments are not only an expression of a lack of respect for the community, but also endanger the social fabric and quality of life in our city.

The aim of the new "Salzgitter - safe and clean 2.0" project is to counteract these negative trends. It aims to raise citizens' awareness of the fact that compliance with standards and respect for public spaces is not only an individual obligation, but also an essential contribution to the common good and to protecting the quality of life of all Salzgitter residents.

The key points are more visibility and controls in public spaces, consistent punishment of misdemeanours and criminal offences as well as raising citizens' awareness of the issues of safety, cleanliness and mutual respect as part of a campaign.

The city administration and the Salzgitter/Peine/Wolfenbüttel police department cooperate closely on the issue of security and implement jointly coordinated measures.

There are currently more joint patrols, checks and targeted operations by the municipal public order service (KOD) and the police. This ensures that municipal and police forces are much more visible to the public. These operations are focused on places where there have been an increased number of violations in the past. They also take place in the city centers of Lebenstedt and Salzgitter-Bad in order to prevent aggressive begging, mobbing and sexually related mobbing (also known as "catcalling"). This also serves to minimize subjectively perceived "areas of fear".

Any violations of municipal statutes or laws that are detected will be punished consistently and, in the case of administrative offenses, with significantly higher fines than was previously the case. This applies, for example, to incorrect waste separation, illegal waste dumping or breaches of the hazard prevention ordinance.

In close consultation between the city administration and the police, the spatial and content-related areas of operation specified in the concept will be changed or expanded according to the current situation.

Cleanliness in public spaces and in the immediate living environment is the basis for the well-being and satisfaction of our citizens.

In order to increase cleanliness, the SRB will launch an intensified cleaning campaign. To this end, two additional cleaning teams (North and South) will be deployed to remove illegal waste deposits, empty litter bins and clean the city centers. More advice will also be offered.

In addition, the perpetrators of illegal littering will be consistently punished. In addition to the disposal costs, an increased fine will be levied. If these people cannot be traced, the owners of the littered areas will be held responsible as "condition polluters", as they are responsible for keeping their areas clean and tidy.

Another important task within the project is to contain the rat population in the city of Salzgitter. Where it occurs, it is usually the result of improper storage of waste in residential areas or around snack bars and restaurants. The owners are responsible for infestations in private buildings and on private property. The city administration is responsible for public areas. In addition to the consistent control of rat infestations, there will be more information on preventing rat infestations on the city's website, in the press and on social media in the future.

It is also important to contain the urban pigeon population in a manner appropriate to the species. To this end, a city pigeon officer will be established who will be responsible for expanding the jointly developed city pigeon concept and implementing it in close cooperation with "Taubenengel Salzgitter e.V.".

Under the title "SALZGITTER. TOGETHER. SAFE. SAUBER." is a campaign that addresses various aspects of safety, cleanliness and mutual appreciation. It is intended to encourage people to take a critical look at their own actions and ask themselves what they can do to keep their home town safe and clean and to ensure that coexistence in urban society works.

Examples include

• the proper disposal of waste,
• the respectful treatment of municipal employees and
• how you can get involved yourself to make our city safer and cleaner

Citizens can use the following telephone numbers and e-mail addresses to report issues relating to the "Salzgitter - safe & clean 2.0" project.

Information on the area of safety:

• Telephone: 05341/839-3030
• E-mail: sicherstadt.salzgitterde

Information on the area of cleanliness:

• Telephone: 05341/839-7070
• E-mail: sauberstadt.salzgitterde

Reports can also be sent to the city administration via the city's deficiency app. Two sub-items ("Salzgitter - safe 2.0" and "Salzgitter - clean 2.0") have been added to the menu. Citizens can use these two new sub-items to submit reports to the city administration. The reports submitted are then recorded and processed directly and decentrally by the relevant departments.