A dark approach to the bus stop, suspicious groups near the entrance, the constant feeling that it’s better to take another street — a familiar situation for many residents of Bratislava, especially those renting housing in the city’s cheaper districts. In 2025–2026, the city authorities seriously tackled the most problematic locations: a record budget, hundreds of new cameras, and patrols that have increased several times.
The budget of the mestská polícia (municipal police — municipal police that patrol the streets but do not investigate crimes) for 2026 reached a record €18.8 million. For comparison: in 2018 it was €8.8 million, in 2025 — €17.4 million. The number of video surveillance cameras has nearly tripled in recent years — from 283 to 766, reports the Bratislava city hall.
Three districts where changes are already visible
The situation has changed most noticeably at Trnavské mýto — a large transport hub of Nové Mesto (New Town), through which thousands of people pass daily. The number of police checks here has increased almost fourfold: from 626 in 2024 to 2,782 in 2025. Near Nová tržnica (New Market) and the shopping center, cameras and lighting were added, and a mobile camera tower was tested to monitor the situation.
In the Zátišie neighborhood, patrolling was tripled — from 1,327 checks in 2024 to 3,876 in 2025. Lighting was improved in the park on Hattalova Street. At the city’s request, state police also conducted anti-drug raids here.
The third location is the 500 bytov district in Petržalka, where the number of patrol dispatches increased from 739 to 4,514 per year. Lighting was improved in the park on Páričkova Street and in the courtyard between Skladištná and Súťažná streets. Further plans include expanding the surveillance camera network.
Joint raids with state police
In February 2026, the state and municipal police conducted large joint raids in the Zátišie, Filiálka, and Trnavské mýto districts. The reason was repeated complaints from local residents: drugs, thefts, aggressive behavior in public places. The Nové Mesto (New Town) municipal district admits: the problem is old and beyond its competence, so state law enforcement is necessary, writes Bratislavaden.sk.
A special rapid response and canine unit was created — its officers work with service dogs and wear body cameras that record every call.
What’s next
Currently, about 350 officers serve in the Bratislava municipal police — a historic maximum, but the city considers it insufficient. By the end of 2026, the staff is planned to increase to 500, reports Teraz.sk. At the same time, the city hall is asking the state to strengthen regulation of pawnshops, which the city believes act as a “magnet for crime” — stolen goods quickly turn into cash there.
What this means for you
If you live or work in these districts, document checks and patrols will become noticeably more frequent — keep your ID card (ID card — official identity document) with you, this is standard practice. If you witness a violation or feel unsafe, the municipal police phone number is 159, the state police is 158. All emergency service numbers are collected on our important phone numbers page.
And if you notice broken lighting or a problem spot in your yard — complain. As the example of Zátišie and Nové Mesto shows, it is repeated residents’ complaints that force the city to act.
