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Berlin's First Outdoor Pools Secure with Barbed Wire

Though the skies are drizzled with rain, the summer swimming season progresses as the Staaken West and Monbijou children's pools commence operations this Saturday. However, the notorious pools have been fortified with barbed wires and higher fences.

SymClub
Jun 1, 2024
2 min read
NewsNews domesticBerlin regional newsPoliceOutdoor poolBerlinSummerBrawl
It now looks like a prison here: barbed wire has already been installed at the Wilmersdorf and...
It now looks like a prison here: barbed wire has already been installed at the Wilmersdorf and Kreuzberg summer swimming pools

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Mandatory in bathroom issues. - Berlin's First Outdoor Pools Secure with Barbed Wire

The Innensenat and public bathing areas have been working hard to improve safety following recent incidents. While these places used to be synonymous with carefree fun, they now resemble more like prisons.

In Berlin, it's essential as issues at public swimming pools have escalated during past summers. There were fights, sexual harassment, attacks on security personnel, and lifeguards.

Increased fencing at bathing establishments

In locations like Seestraße and Pankow, fences have been upgraded, raising them from 2 to 3 meters or adding step protection. Similar projects are in the pipeline for Kreuzberg, Neukölln, Am Insulaner, and Mariendorf.

June 2023: A mass brawl breaks out at the outdoor pool at Insulaner in Steglitz

Fences exceeding 2 meters in height require district approval in Berlin. As a result, some bathing establishments are still waiting for approval.

ID checks and video surveillance at entrances

Now, all public bathing establishments require visitors to show personal IDs. While they aren't checking the IDs, their presence is crucial. House bans can be issued more easily if there are violations of the rules. Additionally, video surveillance is in place at Neukölln, Kreuzberg, Pankow, and Am Insulaner.

The fences at the Prinzenbad are also to be raised

The bathing establishments reserve the right to randomly match tickets and IDs to ensure compliance.

Beginning on Saturday, there will be almost no physical sales of tickets for Pankow, Neukölln, Kreuzberg, Am Insulaner, and Humboldthain. Only online ticket sales will be available.

Cash registers will only be open from 10 a.m. to 10 a.m. in these locations. Anyone who behaviorally misbehaves will be subject to a house ban and reported to the police by the Innensenat.

Paul Hollenbach (26), student from Kreuzberg:

The total cost of these security measures comes to 2.5 million euros per swimming season.

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