The SWR folks (public network for Baden-Wuerttemberg) wrote up a piece today....talking about an accusation by the police union in Stuttgart, and various warnings they'd given the city leadership over the past couple of months about increasing 'bad behavior' of juveniles and adolescent 'kids' in the city.
As they point out, the trend was alcohol and drug consumption in 'green' areas around the city....with the situation being disrespectful for the police, and signs of aggression (lots of 'fake courage' via the alcohol one might assume).
The added note to the chatter mentioned....a fair number of the 'kids' were of a migrant background. If you go and review Green Party chatter from within Stuttgart since Sunday....they kinda hinted the same issues. In a comment to the press locally....Green Party member Hans-Ulrich Sckerl said in a direct way that the chief cause of the riot was integration problems (leaving out drugs or alcohol).
Another Green Party member said bluntly: "idiotische Wut zu zerstören", which loosely translates to 'an idiotic rage to destroy things'.
The discussion on banning alcohol in public places? SWR even went and had discussions with various people over this idea.
Basically, people do agree that something needs to occur, but no one wants to make public drinking on the street a criminal offense. As they point out....a couple out and wrapping up an evening at some opera....should have the right to consume a glass of wine on the street.
No one is urging a drinking ban at this point. Closing off pubs or shutting down the beer-tap at an earlier hour, for a couple of weeks? That might be the only action (note, you could still go and buy a case of beer for you and your buddies....consuming beer well past the closing point). I don't see this really solving much of anything....plus drugs would still be in ample supply via the dealers.
They also point out social workers in Stuttgart are involved on continual efforts to bring juveniles and police together....to foster an understanding about problems of bad behavior.
At the end of all of this discussion (as SWR points out)....what you kinda expected....the police are approaching the Stuttgart city leadership about more 'amok' equipment (the tactical gear to prevent injuries when confronted with riots like this). While it prevents injuries for the police....it sends this blunt signal of military-style gear being the norm. If riots didn't occur, the cops would have no necessity to ask for the gear....with the gear in display, one would expect the riots to further develop and continue.
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