One of the odd factors that you see a bit of growth on in Europe (especially in London and Paris)....are hoodlum, hooligan and juvenile 'gangs'.
In Germany? There are some minor indications of this problem starting....mostly seen in the NW of the country (where a higher rate of non-Germans have settled in). I would put some of the blame on non-willing nature of prosecutors, social office administrators and judges to squarely put some effort into resolutions.
This publicly discussed rape by some juvenile 'punk's from three weeks was an example of that.
In terms of traveling around in the Hessen region via train and bus? You don't readily notice this issue. No, there are acid-attacks, or thug-like behavior that gets noticed.
No-go areas? I tend to mark areas on the map (one spot by the SE end of Wiesbaden's station, and a km-by-km area near the Frankfurt station) as a no-go area, but it's more so because of drugs than thugs. After 10 PM at night, I might go and mark an area between Wiesbaden's station and downtown area....mostly because of robbery episodes that see listed in the police blotter three or four times a week.
Robbery? Snatch and go crimes still get to be routine in the Wiesbaden shopping district, with pick-pockets more active than they were twenty years ago.
Why hasn't Germany seen what happened in Paris and London? Maybe it's the proactive nature of the cops, and reaction by city councils (worried over voting trends) that trigger serious handling of events. Most all of the urban areas have a substantial police presence, and they could easily go and throw forty cops at some zone....to show a presence and determination over public safety.
Bottom line, in terms of general safety....I haven't reached a point where I tend to worry much except for break-in's. I admit I added lights, and to tend to be proactive. But it's just the same place as I viewed back in the 1980s (before the wall came down).
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