CDU leader Merz considers more police in outdoor pools to be inevitable, but the police union rejects this. Who is actually responsible for safety in the pools?
After the Berlin Columbiabad was closed on Sunday due to a fight, the debate about safety in outdoor pools continued. CDU party leader Friedrich Merz said that “nothing would get around” a higher police presence in the swimming pools. “This must also be done in such a way that these young people are not allowed to enter the outdoor pools again for the foreseeable future.” The police should issue place references and entry bans and also control them.
The federal chairman of the police union (GdP), Jochen Kopelke, contradicted this: “It is not the job of the police to secure the fun slides in outdoor pools or to patrol the lawn,” he told the editorial network Germany. Federal Interior Minister Nancy Faeser, who had also called for more police in pools, also rejected Kopelke: “The Federal Interior Minister is not responsible for state police work.” However, Faeser could provide more money to support police work in the federal states.
Berlin bath closed after incident
The Neukölln Columbiabad was closed and cleared again early on Sunday evening due to disputes. The pool was closed on Monday and Tuesday due to high sick leave. When setting up, it was said on Wednesday morning that the Columbiabad would probably remain closed for the entire week, and that a new decision would be made from day to day.
According to his own statement, Berlin’s Governing Mayor Kai Wegner wants to take measures, but sees security companies as more likely to be involved. “I see the overtime with the Berlin police, I see the strain on the Berlin police – and I will not be able to monitor every pool with several hundred people, because we also have to protect the Berlin police officers here,” said Wegner.
In North Rhine-Westphalia, where there have also been riots in outdoor pools in some places in recent years, the situation is calm from the point of view of the Ministry of the Interior: “Public brawls are still an exception,” it said. The police are only ready when the outdoor pool operators ask them to or when there are criminal offenses to be prosecuted.
Who is responsible for security in bathrooms?
Basically, the staff in swimming pools is responsible for enforcing the house and bathing rules. Some pools also rely on private security guards. In pools with conflicts, the police union recommends that the operators coordinate joint concepts with the police and rescue services.
Private security guards and pool staff can make use of domiciliary rights and expel people from the pool. However, you may not arrest anyone or impose any other penalties other than expulsion. Therefore, the police are called upon to provide support, especially in violent conflicts. In some swimming pools, the police also show an increased presence again and again.
What are domiciliary rights and house bans?
House rules are governed by Section 903 of the Civil Code. According to this, the owner of an object – such as an open-air swimming pool – can decide for himself how visitors are to behave there or who he denies entry to. Violators may commit trespassing – a crime that could result in imprisonment or a fine.
The owner can basically ban the house at will and it is not necessarily linked to misconduct. However, if the premises are accessible to everyone, the domiciliary rights can be restricted. Then owners need a valid reason to exclude people.
With material from dpa