Escaling security problems: Berlin outdoor pools close after outbreaks of violence

Escaling security problems: Berlin outdoor pools close after outbreaks of violence

Title: Violence in Berlin outdoor pools: A blatant failure of the security concept

The beautiful weather attracts people outdoors - right now in the summer vacation. But bathing pleasure is difficult for the residents of Berlin. With dismay, you must find that more and more outdoor pools are being closed. The Columbiabad in Neukölln and the Prinzenbad are already tight, and another summer pool is about to close. However, these measures are not due to the protection of infection, but to the increasing willingness to violate a few men.

The orphans slide and jumping towers are cordoned off behind red and white flutter straps. Children and adolescents receive signs that explain to them why they are not allowed to use these facilities. The sad reason: the closure was arranged from above to prevent outbreaks of violence. This procedure is reminiscent of the Corona period when similar measures to protect against infections were taken. But this time it is about protection against violence.

Unfortunately, these efforts are in vain. Because if the violent people cannot riot on the slide, look for other places, such as the edge of the pelvis, to live out their aggression - as has recently been done in the Columbiadad. The closed outdoor pools are a disturbing signal of the surrender in front of a comparatively small group of violent men who face the wishes of the peaceful bathers and, above all, around 600,000 children in the capital who simply have fun and want to recover.

Those who suffer the most from the closed baths are the peaceful bathers and especially the children who now have to look for alternatives. You can only hope that there is still an outdoor pool in Berlin, whose employees have the courage to open the doors and to give them a safe bathing experience.

The crisis management of the Berlin Bäder farms has already shown at the beginning of the summer that it is underground. When asked what security measures are being taken to contain violence, there were either no or only scarce answers. The only noteworthy information was that this year 1.5 million euros will be spent on private security forces and that two to six employees would be on site as required. Concrete sums were kept secret. Bäder farms also refer to "prevention and de-escalation training". Mobile police guards should provide order and violence.

But only after a four -week fire letter from the Columbiabad employees came to the local press in early July, those responsible come from cover. Initially, the closure was justified with a high sick leave. But after that they could no longer deny what was really behind the closings: violence and psychological terror against the employees, fear for their own security, destruction and threats. Of course, the Situation does not make the situation better that this has been part of everyday life in these and other outdoor pools. And it affects not only the capital, but also other cities such as Mannheim or Karlsruhe, where there are also attacks on the bathing staff and attacks.

The current rows of closure of the Berlin outdoor pools marks a low point in dealing with this phenomenon, which has so far been consistently ignored - the aggression that young men live out in groups. In the fire letter of the bathing employees, the speech of young people from Arab families, sometimes also Chechens, who stand out negatively and do not bend the instructions of the lifeguards, but occur like a mob.

You cannot accuse the bathroom businesses to be directly responsible for the violent spiral. But they have to be accused of not taking enough and not the right measures to react to the specific forms of this violence by certain groups. Obviously, the previous prevention measures are not sufficient.

If the bathrooms are so tightly driven that they are fully functional outdoor pools that have been built and renovated with millions of taxpayers, just because they are misused, then this is a significant failure of their own security concepts.

Now, according to the fire letter, the companies suddenly promise increased controls and more security forces. It is suddenly talked about family times - days when only adults are allowed to go to the bathroom accompanied by children. The consistent enforcement of house bans is also promised. But none of these are new ideas. In the past, however, house bans and criminal complaints against violent offenders failed due to excessive demands and lack of staff. Do you finally follow acts?

Violence in Berlin outdoor pools is a problem that can no longer be ignored. It is time that the bathroom farms take appropriate and effective measures in order to give outdoor swimming pool visitors a safe and carefree bathing experience. This is the only way to enjoy the Berlin children and families the summer and feel safe in their city.