After acts of violence - Baederbetriebe: Measures in Free-standing Pools apply
After there were repeated incidents of violence outbursts in some Berlin outdoor pools last summer, the Berlin pool operators in cooperation with the city have taken measures and are satisfied with the development this summer.
A total of 38 eviction orders and approximately 300 referrals have been issued this pool season, according to Johannes Kleinsorg, the head of Berlin pools. "That's fewer than last year, and we're on the right track with the consistent way we apply it."
Verbal and physical attacks
In summer 2023, there were "for the first time in an unprecedented extent, verbal and physical attacks also against our employees," according to Kleinsorg. The pool operators have therefore stepped up security measures in various areas.
For instance, security services now check the IDs of every visitor and visitoress at the entrance. The Berlin police have increased their presence before and in the pools, especially on busy days.
Online booking and time window quotas
The pool operators have also improved their services. Guests can now buy tickets for five pools online and no longer have to wait in line at the ticket counter. In addition, there are time window quotas for entry in five pools to reduce the crowd. Guests at full pools now only have to wait a few minutes instead of the usual two to three hours, according to the deputy manager of the Neukölln summer pool, Sven Ahrendt.
For bored youth, there are now additional sports and movement offers from the Berlin Youth Sports in three pools. Beach volleyball, basketball, and soccer courts have been set up, where young and old can exercise outside the water.
Since the beginning of the season in the 15 open pools of the Berlin pool operators, about 570,000 female visitors and male visitors have come. That's about 200,000 to 250,000 fewer people than in the previous year at this time. "I still see the chance that the numbers will increase," said pool chief Kleinsorg. In the previous year, the pools counted a total of 1.6 million guests.
Despite the decrease in attendance at Berlin swimming pools this year, the pool operators have managed to reduce criminality significantly. As reported by Johannes Kleinsorg, fewer eviction orders and referrals have been issued compared to the previous year, indicating a more peaceful leisure environment. However, last summer saw an unprecedented rise in verbal and physical attacks against pool employees, prompting enhanced security measures for the upcoming swimming season in Berlin swimming pools.
