Cologne police grabbed fleeting psychiatric inmates on the park bench

Cologne police grabbed fleeting psychiatric inmates on the park bench

Velbert, Deutschland - A breathless hunting started for the Cologne police on June 16, 2025 when a 38-year-old inmate of the forensic clinic in Porz-Westhoven disappeared unauthorized during a free pass. According to Express , the man was classified as dangerous, which is why the police quickly released a photo of him to find him. Of course, the man's escape in the region caused increased tensions.

The forensic psychiatry of Cologne-Porz, in which the fleeting was housed, is characterized by its high-security facilities. With five meters high walls, lattice bars and surveillance cameras, the area is designed to ensure security. Since the opening in 2009, incapable of guilt and reduced culpable criminals have been dealt with here, which are instructed in psychiatric clinics in accordance with Section 63 of the Criminal Code. The aim of this accommodation lies in the reintegration of the patient into society, which can only be achieved through effective therapy and qualified personnel Clinic .

The dramatic escape

On the said day, the man used his freedom and ran from the water tower road into an adjacent forest. There was no use of violence against the accompanying LVR employee who was unharmed and alerted the police. The emergency services searched the area around the Gremberger Wäldchen with the help of a police helicopter and sniffer dogs shared the Express with .

on June 23, 2025, a week later, the fleeting was finally found in Velbert after a testimony. At around 3:15 p.m. he was relaxed on a parking bench on Froweinplatz and, without resistance, was brought back to the clinic. This return shows how important it is that such and other safety -relevant facilities are well monitored.

prejudices and challenges

The discussion about forensic psychiatry is often characterized by prejudices. Many people have difficulty understanding the circumstances and legal consequences of mental illnesses. According to dgppn are not generally more dangerous than healthy people, but certain diagnoses-especially in connection with drug abuse-can lead to aggressive behavior.

In addition, critics are concerned that patients often remain in the execution of the measure for too long. A survey showed that more than every fourth patient has been accommodated in clinics for more than ten years. At the same time, many institutions suffer from overcrowding and lack of personnel, which endangers the success of therapy. Professor Dr. Jürgen Müller is therefore urgently demanding reforms and better financing of the measure in Germany to ensure the quality of treatment.

The recent events related to the escape of the 38-year-old illustrate the need to think about both security measures and the humanitarian aspects of forensic psychiatry. It remains to be seen what effects this incident will have on future decisions in the treatment and accommodation of mentally ill criminals.