New Year's Eve alarm: Police step up operations across Germany!

New Year's Eve alarm: Police step up operations across Germany!

New Year's Eve is in full swing and the police's preparations can be felt in many German cities. Reported today, January 1, 2026 Picture that the police across Germany were put on alert. The focus is on hotspots where incidents have repeatedly occurred in the past. Firecracker ban zones have been set up in several cities to ensure the safety of revelers.

Especially in Cologne, a city with a long history of New Year's Eve celebrations, the ban on firecrackers has been in effect since New Year's Eve 2015/2016. Here, no firecrackers may be fired in a specified area that extends from the rings to the cathedral. Violations can result in fines of up to 200 euros. Düsseldorf has also set up a no-go zone in the old town and on the banks of the Rhine in order to increase security precautions.

Berlin relies on security

In Berlin, where the last few New Year's Eve nights were marked by frightening incidents, the city authorities are particularly vigilant. T Online reports that there will be several firecracker ban zones on New Year's Eve 2025/2026, including at Alexanderplatz, in parts of Sonnenallee and at Admiralbrücke. The police have 222 radio cars in use for the night - 40 more than last year. The use of weapons ban zones around the Brandenburg Gate also ensures additional security.

A total of 1,453 “New Year’s Eve” crimes were registered last year, in which 670 suspects were identified. The police also seized almost 150,000 illegal firecrackers, including 108,000 ball bombs. The increase in incidents gives police incentive to be extra vigilant on New Year's Eve.

Nationwide regulations and local specifics

Nationwide, category 2 fireworks can be set off on New Year's Eve by people aged 18 and over, but there are serious restrictions in many municipalities. South Germans informed that in Hamburg, for example, firecrackers and fireworks are strictly prohibited in central areas such as the harbor, the Reeperbahn and the Jungfernstieg. Only small fireworks in the F1 category are permitted.

In Munich, a ban on fireworks was also announced in the city center and around the Hellabrunn Zoo. Additional police forces will be on site here, while in other cities such as Leipzig, there are still no blanket bans in place, but direct police operations in problem areas are still planned.

The northern German islands of Amrum and Sylt, where there is a complete ban on fireworks, are also taking special precautions. This underlines the desire to ensure safety and nature conservation in these popular vacation spots.

With all these measures behind them, the celebrants can hope to have a safe start to the new year, even if one or two firecrackers will certainly explode in the air - hopefully only within the legal requirements!