Stricter security measures in Berlin outdoor pools: from Saturday only admission with photo ID card

Stricter security measures in Berlin outdoor pools: from Saturday only admission with photo ID card

From Saturday, the Berlin outdoor pools will only be accessible with photo ID, the Berlin Bäder-Bäds (BBB) ​​said on Friday. In addition, admission stops are imposed earlier and the security personnel are increased. In order to cool off in one of the Berlin outdoor pools, a photo ID must be presented from Saturday. This regulation applies to personnel cards, driver's licenses or student ID cards. The personalized admission serves to compensate for the enforcement of the house ban.

The security personnel of the outdoor pools are "fundamentally" reinforced. The security personnel are used individually depending on the bathroom and weather conditions and is at the discretion of the bathroom line. In the event of a threat of overcrowding, admission-stop measures are taken to have fewer visitors in the outdoor pool at the same time. The decision to stop the entry is the responsibility of the respective layer line.

The summer pool Neukölln on Columbiadamm will open again on Monday. The slides and diving towers, which were blocked due to previous clashes, can then be used again. The summer pool Neukölln was closed due to illness failures since the evacuation last Sunday.

Mobile guards are set up in front of various bathrooms, including in front of the Kreuzberg summer pool. According to the Berlin police homepage, a mobile guard in front of the summer pool at the Insulaner in Tempelhof-Schöneberg and from 2 p.m. to 8 p.m. there will be a mobile guard in front of the summer pool in Pankow.

According to the interior administration, a crisis meeting with those responsible for the police, the bathing companies, the interior administration and social associations took place on Friday. It was also discussed whether mobile video surveillance can be set up at the entrance of the outdoor pools in Pankow, on the islander and in the prince pool.

Chancellor Olaf Scholz (SPD) called for a determined approach to violent riots in outdoor pools. He also considers the presence of the police to be justified in the bathrooms. Violence in swimming pools should not be tolerated, emphasized Scholz.

The announcement of ID checks when entering the Berlin swimming pools was criticized by the opposition parties in Berlin. The sports and youth policy spokeswoman for the Green Group, Klara Schedlich, sees longer admission controls as the cause of longer snakes and more conflicts among those waiting. In their opinion, ID checks are not an effective approach.

Niklas Schrader, domestic spokesman for the left faction, criticized the ruling mayor's proposal as "cheap actionism". He emphasized that not everyone should be punished when it was only a small minority of the bathers. Instead, Schrader called for social solutions and targeted prevention work in the baths.

The State School Committee (LSA) criticized the opportunity to show student ID cards at the outdoor swimming pool. They are easy to fake and would not solve the real problem. Instead, the LSA called for social solutions and strengthening school social work.

There were also positive reactions to the Measures of the Senate. The AfD parliamentary group looks at them as a first step, but not yet sufficient. The CDU parliamentary group in the Berlin House of Representatives has already submitted a seven-point plan for security in public baths and, among other things, calls for an upper limit for visitors.

The escalations and fights in the swimming pools Prinzenbad, Columbiabad and Summer Bad Pankow in the past few weeks have led to the announced measures.