Thanks to preventive measures and prompt action by law enforcement agencies, public order in Riga city centre’s Station Square has improved since the beginning of the year, according to data from the Origo shopping centre and operational services. As the autumn season approaches, Origo has invited Riga City Council, State Police, Riga Municipal Police, Emergency Medical Service (EMS) and social partners to a meeting to discuss the current public order situation, the effectiveness of measures taken so far to improve it and the planned actions to promote public order.

Already in January this year, in response to the increasing number of violations, the shopping centre “Origo” identified specific problems and called on the Riga City Council and law enforcement agencies to take active steps to ensure public order in the vicinity of Station Square.

“We are pleased that, thanks to the joint work, significant improvements in public order in the Riga city centre’s Station Square have been realised. This has been facilitated by closer cooperation between the Origo security service and the operational services, as well as increased police presence and additional checks. Thanks to all parties involved for their responsiveness and cooperation so far! I am sure that in the future this will have a positive impact on the image of the city and will contribute to the development of the urban environment and new projects in the neighbourhood. Alongside this, additional investments and attraction of new merchants are making the Origo multifunctional shopping centre neighbourhood an active, modern and trendy part of Riga city centre development,” says Evija Majevska, Commercial Director of Linstow Baltic and Origo multifunctional shopping centre.

“Riga City Council is committed to further improving security and order in the vicinity of the Central Station. It is one of the capital’s landmarks, visited by tens of thousands of people every day. We are working in two directions: the establishment of “Resiliences centrs” in the Central Station area will provide an opportunity to reach out to young people in a preventive way at the site itself and to offer a variety of activities for meaningful and developmental leisure time. Meanwhile, Riga Municipal Police, State Police and other law enforcement agencies will continue and improve their operational work to ensure security and order in the neighbourhood. We sincerely appreciate the active involvement of the management of Origo shopping centre in this process,” says Linda Ozola, Deputy Chairman of the Riga City Council.

Since the beginning of the year, all the parties involved have implemented a series of preventive measures to achieve this goal. Several meetings have been held and law enforcement agencies have stepped up their operational activities – the State Police and the Riga Municipal Police ensure regular inspections and checks of the areas.

In addition to addressing public order issues, in May this year Origo organised a meeting with Riga City Council and social partners – the Resilience Centre – to discuss the public order situation in the centre of Riga, including issues related to stray youth. The meeting reached a common understanding of the problem situation and the parties agreed to work together constructively to

address the issues at stake. Riga Municipality plans to open a representative office of the association “Resiliences centrs” in the premises of Origo shopping centre in order to provide informational support and consultation opportunities on the social support and rehabilitation programmes offered by the association.

Meanwhile, on 1 June, Child Protection Day, a “Youth Day Festival” was organised at the Origo shopping centre, with the participation of several public organisations that work with young people on a daily basis and offer various projects and activities. Young people were thus encouraged to explore opportunities and initiatives for meaningful leisure time, including training and job opportunities.

At the end of the meeting, all parties agreed on further exchange of operational information and cooperation on maintaining public order with an aim to reduce potential offences.

Origo shopping centre would like to thank the representatives of Riga City Council, State Police, Riga Municipal Police, Emergency Medical Service and the association “Resiliences centrs” for the meeting and active cooperation. Special thanks to the security company Grifs AG, the Riga East Department of the State Police Riga Region and the Riga Municipal Police for their responsiveness and increased presence, as well as additional checks to improve public order in the neighbourhood.