18 June 2024 , 13:11
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England fans in Frankfurt - brace yourselves for one of Germany's roughest neighbourhoods.
Home to an estimated 5000 junkies, Bahnhofsviertel - nicknamed 'Zombieland' by foreign press - is just a stone's throw away from the city's train station and it remains a grim stain upon the nation's financial capital.
Drug users can be seen shooting up and smoking crack cocaine and heroin on the sidewalks while dealers and beggars - some of which are wearing designer clothing - hassle and harass pedestrians at will.
Mayor Mike Josef implemented increased security and cleanliness measures ahead of Euro 2024 but the harsh reality of the situation is Frankfurt's station district remains both unhygienic and unsafe.
Hessen Police spokesperson Thomas Hollerbach told Mirror Football that public drug use is normal in Bahnhofsviertel as the neighbourhood is home to rehabilitation and medical supervision centres.
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They were introduced at the start of the 1990s as part of the “Frankfurt Way” - a pragmatic drug policy that encouraged a balanced approach to both law enforcement and social services to help tackle the high number of drug-related deaths in the region.
Hollerbach said: "The security of all visitors during the Euro 2024 in Frankfurt is our top priority. The situation in the main station area is special and cannot be compared to that of other areas of the city.
"A large part of the brothels where prostitution can be legally practiced is found here within the red light district.
"The majority of drug help facilities and the open drug scene are also concentrated there. In these facilities, it is possible for severely addicted people to use heroin and crack under good hygienic conditions and medical supervision.
"As a result, there is always openly visible drug use on the sidewalks in this neighbourhood."
Police in Frankfurt are looking to stamp out crime in Bahnhofsviertel (AFP via Getty Images)Lina, a 43-year-old shop-owner, claims there has been little improvement within the region during the past six months, she said: "Users aren't scared of the police, they're rarely stopped and just move from street to street.
"It's not just the drugs, it's the violence, robberies and shoplifting that also come with it. But we are just used to this."
Irish pub O'Reilly's is adjacent to the station. It's reasonably priced, shows all Euro 2024 matches and has already played host to hundreds of Scotland fans, who drank the bar dry on Saturday to ease the pain of their embarrassing 5-1 capitulation at the hands of Germany in Munich.
But any England fans planning to pay the venue, which is around a 10-minute walk from the riverside fan park, a visit should operate with caution.
England fans are starting to arrive in Frankfurt ahead of Thursday's match versus Denmark (ADRIAN DENNIS)
Beggars persistently target those sat outside by the TV screens and will attempt to guilt trip you via the presence of young children, while around the corner, hooded drug dealers linger observantly in groups.
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Hesse Police have installed extra high-quality surveillance within the proximity in an attempt to keep crime under control while they also implemented a weapon ban last November.
Hollerbach added: "Almost half of all drug-related crimes and a quarter of all violent crimes registered annually in Frankfurt are committed in this small part of the city. In response, Frankfurt police significantly intensified their operations in this area in the summer of 2022 and even intensified these operations during Euro 2024.
"You won't find an area in the entire state of Hesse where the police presence is as high as it is there 24/7. Over and above that, we installed additional surveillance cameras in that part of the city to maximise security."
Bahnhofsviertel is the area that surrounds Frankfurt's main train station
Slovakia fan Blazej Hutcka, who now lives in the Czech Republic, was targeted by thieves on his way back to his city centre hotel on Sunday evening before watching his team's historic 1-0 victory over Belgium at Deutsche Bank Park on Monday.
He told Mirror Football: "After withdrawing cash, my wallet was taken from my pocket and it was gone. I lost some money, pictures and cards but was able to contact my bank and get the cards discarded. I am here with a large group but I was by myself and I believe this is why the people must have picked me out to target."
According to figures, Frankfurt's station district recorded a 10-year high in 2023 when 10,600 crimes were reported - 3700 of those were drug-related offences.
Smoking cannabis was legalised across Germany on April 1 but in Frankfurt, possession, cultivation and consumption is only permitted with restrictions. Adults are able to cultivate up to three plants in private for personal use, however, selling cannabis to young adults remains permitted.