Czech Republic

Czech Republic: New Tourist Police in Prague

Date: June 4th, 2008 |

A new tourist police squad is in place for the summer in Prague’s main tourist areas. In the stretch between Wenceslas Square and Prague Castle via Old Town Square and the Charles Bridge, at least seven special police are on patrol from 10 a.m. to midnight. Their mission is to combat street crime, especially pickpockets [read more]

Austria and Czech Republic: Border Crossing Blockades

Date: May 23rd, 2007 |

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Austrian anti-nuclear protesters have repeatedly blocked border crossings with the Czech Republic over complaints that a nuclear power plant at Temelin, Czech Republic, is unsafe. Activists claim that the Czech government has not fulfilled conditions agreed to between the two countries in 2000 to allow the plant to go into operation, and have demanded that [read more]

Czech Republic: Pickpocket Capital of the World

Date: July 18th, 2006 |

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Britain’s leading insurance company, Norwich Union, surveyed 60,000 travel insurance claims from 2005 to learn where British travelers are most at risk around the world, and learned that the Czech Republic is number one for pick-pocketing, with Thailand coming in a distant second at about half the rate. Most British travelers go to Prague, where [read more]

Czech Republic: Possible Immigration Reprisals against Americans, Canadians, and Australians

Date: April 4th, 2006 |

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Frustration over the visa policies of the U.S., Canada and Australia has sparked an argument between the ministries of Foreign Affairs and the Interior, with the Foreign Affairs minister threatening to enforce a law that has been ignored for six years as a reprisal for policies that require Czechs to obtain visas to visit those [read more]

Czech Republic

Date: January 18th, 2005 |

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Taxi drivers in Prague are infamous for ripping off tourists, but now something might be done about it after the mayor became a victim himself. He dressed in disguise and in cooperation with journalists, took a taxi from Old Town Square to Prague Castle and was charged six times the regular fare. On his return [read more]

Czech Republic: Prague Moves to Guarantee Honest Taxis

Date: August 8th, 2007 |

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Taxi drivers in Prague have a reputation for ripping off tourists, but officials have a new plan to combat those who cheat: taxi stands marked with “thumbs up” signs that guarantee honest fares. By mid August, 49 stands certified as “Fair Taxi Places” will be set up and overseen by city officials to make sure [read more]

Czech Republic: Terrorist Threat in Prague

Date: October 3rd, 2006 |

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The Czech government reported Sept. 23 that it had received information of a serious terrorist threat in Prague and stepped up security at dozens of locations around the city, including the Ruzyne international airport. The U.S. Embassy, in responding to questions from Americans in Prague, issued a statement recommending that all visitors be vigilant but [read more]

Central Europe: Floods Threaten Many Countries

Date: April 4th, 2006 |

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Flooding from melting snow and heavy rain threatened a repeat of the catastrophic floods of 2002. Floods forced evacuations in the Czech Republic, where a state of emergency was declared in seven of its 14 regions, in Hungary, Germany and Slovakia. Serbia and Romania were on high alert. Unlike the floods of 2002, the current [read more]

Czech Republic: Pickpockets in Prague

Date: December 6th, 2005 |

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Prague authorities are trying to reduce petty crime. Dozens of additional police officers are patrolling the city center while an awareness campaign about pick-pocketing is running from December to February. Police receive reports of about 20 cases of pick-pocketing a day, about half in the town center, and believe that many more go unreported. Much [read more]

Czech Republic

Date: January 21st, 2003 |

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Crime is low here but pickpockets in Prague are very adept, working in groups as large as six or eight to focus on an individual target. Sometimes the groups are families of varying ages and genders, who work the train stations and crowded trams, especially when the victim is entering or exiting, and tourist areas [read more]