Meeting point Davidwache on the Reeperbahn

The Toscana Forum is represented at various trade fairs in Germany. The “Travel Hamburg“ came to an end, during which Davide Azzaroni introduced visitors to beautiful Tuscany and had many interesting conversations. After a long day at the trade fair, he usually has a quick bite to eat in the evening, calls his family on the phone, and then falls into bed dead tired. But on the second day of the trade fair everything is completely different. Davide has an appointment with André H. The two have known each other for a long time, as the Hamburg native regularly vacations in Tuscany with his family and over the last three years he has repeatedly been to "In Tuscany“ in the wine town of Terricciola, where the Representing the Toscana Forum located.

Davide at the Davidwache

In the evening at a quarter past eight, right after the changing of the guard, the two of them meet at the historic Davidwache, probably the most famous police station in Germany. The striking brick building with the illuminated “Police” lettering on the facade has stood at Spielbudenplatz/corner of Davidstrasse in the immediate vicinity of the Reeperbahn for over 100 years. And since 1970, Police Department 15 has been able to officially call itself “Davidwache” – even in the official seal.  André H. says that the Davidwache looks after the smallest hunting area in Germany at just 0,8 square kilometers. “Only 10.000 people live here,” explains the police chief inspector, who has been on duty here for three years. This compares to around 25 million visitors a year, making the neighborhood Europe's largest entertainment district.

Davide can't help but be amazed when the Hamburg resident mentions that around 30 million euros are withdrawn every year from the Sparkasse ATM directly across the street from the Reeperbahn - money that is mainly spent here in the neighborhood. “The Davidwache officers primarily deal with fraud and drug offenses, violent crime, robbery and pickpocketing“, says Davide. Police crime statistics show that every eleventh crime, almost every ninth theft, every fifth act of violence and every seventh assault in Hamburg occurs in St. Pauli. That's why the 80 police officers at Davidwache are supported by 40 to 50 additional staff on the weekends to ensure peace outside. However, the Davidwache only has six cells to take suspects into custody, so it can happen that people have to be driven to one of the neighboring districts and locked in a cell there.

The almost two-hour tour flies by and André H. gives Davide a tip as he leaves: a freshly tapped Astra in a quaint Hamburg pub. He recommends: “To the sharp corner” at Davidstrasse 1.