Hannover´s Crime Tour- when the city holds its breath

Crime in Hanover – Between Perception and Reality

Crime is not merely a matter of statistics—it also shapes the general atmosphere and sense of well-being within a city. Over the past few decades, Hanover has witnessed recurring events that have captured public attention and influenced many people's sense of security. Often, it was not the frequency of such acts, but rather their unpredictability and media prominence, that left a lasting impression.

A fatal attack on a police officer, political tensions surrounding demonstrations, security-related incidents at the central train station, or a sensational robbery—such events remain etched in the city's collective memory. The Ihme-Zentrum—a symbol of urban vision and failed urban development—also played a role during the era of the RAF (Red Army Faction): in the 1980s, it was rumored to serve as a potential hideout or staging point for the group—an episode that, to this day, shrouds the location in an air of mystery.

Furthermore, places like the Steintorviertel are frequently linked to crime or social insecurity in public discourse—even though many people simultaneously experience them as vibrant and diverse urban spaces.

But how much actual crime lies behind these images? And how do subjective feelings of threat arise?

A City Between Headlines and Everyday Reality

Our new guided tour, "On the Trail of Crime: When the City Holds Its Breath," invites you to approach these questions in a unique way. It takes you to locations associated with notable criminal cases or security-related developments—without sensationalizing, yet without looking away.

The focus lies not only on well-known cases but also on the question of how urban spaces influence our sense of security—and how the media, politics, and society at large engage with this issue. Join us on a walking tour through well-known—and lesser-known—corners of the city, where the focus extends beyond mere crime: it explores the relationship between the city, the public, and the sense of security.

Duration: 2 hours

Meeting Point: Tourist Information, Ernst August Platz 8

Minimum age for participation: 16 years

Dates (starting 2026): Year-round: every second Sunday of the month at 11:30 AM | April – October: Wednesdays at 5:00 PM

Kostenfreie Umbuchung bis 48 Stunden vor Beginn der Tour!

Tickets für die Stadttouren sind vom Umtausch ausgeschlossen. Weitere Informationen erhalten Sie in unseren AGB.