Whether in Bochum, Bonn or Bergisch Gladbach: city centers are central places of social life. But how safe are they - and how safe do they feel? The subjective perception of safety has a decisive influence on whether people use public spaces. It is also crucial for trust in state institutions. There is often a gap between perceived and actual safety. In Bonn, for example, statistics show that some crimes have decreased while others have increased. At the same time, there are places where many people feel uncomfortable - knife crime in particular remains an issue in NRW. The police are responding with an increased presence, bans on weapons for prolific offenders and prevention in schools. How is the security situation developing in NRW's inner cities? How can perception and reality be reconciled - without jeopardizing fundamental rights and liberal values?