Police - How Berlin wants to prevent renewed riots on New Year's Eve
Around two weeks before New Year's Eve, politicians and police in Berlin are entering the hot phase of operational planning. On Friday afternoon, Interior Senator Iris Spranger (SPD) will inform the interior politicians of all parliamentary groups about the preparations for the upcoming New Year's Eve and the measures to prevent renewed outbreaks of violence. Spranger had announced that significantly more police officers would be deployed than a year ago. Back then, there were around 1,300 more police officers than on normal nights. Berlin cannot hope for support from other federal states because the police are needed everywhere on New Year's Eve. However, units are expected from the federal police.
Politicians and police are expecting similar incidents this year as in 2022. The mood in populations of Arab origin, for example in Neukölln and Gesundbrunnen, could also be inflamed by the war in Israel and Gaza.
Ban on fireworks throughout Berlin is not possible
Extensive preparations for the upcoming New Year have been underway for months. It will soon be announced in which areas fireworks and firecrackers will be banned for safety reasons. This is not legally possible for the entire city by the state of Berlin because it is a federal law.
It is not only the Interior Senator Spranger who is under pressure, but also the Governing Mayor Kai Wegner (CDU), who owed his election victory at the beginning of the year in part to the riots on New Year's Eve and who now wants to prove that Berlin has a better grip on the situation under his leadership.
Police and fire department want to work more closely together
Politicians and the police are also considering banning fireworks in parts of Neukölln. Last New Year's Eve, for example, there were riots in Neukölln around Sonnenallee. Firecrackers were also thrown at the police in Schöneberg, Gesundbrunnen and Spandau, as well as in other major German cities. In recent years, there have been three firecracker ban zones: at Alexanderplatz, in Schöneberg near Pallasstraße and in some streets in Alt-Moabit.
On New Year's Eve, the police and fire department want to work more closely together to analyze the danger situation and keep volunteer fire departments away from dangerous places. Firefighters, who have also been shot at with rockets on previous nights, are to be accompanied by police officers in certain areas. The fire department recommends that its personnel wear certain protective equipment.
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- The Federal Police has been mentioned as a potential source of additional support for Berlin's police forces during New Year's Eve, given the high demand across Germany.
- The SPD's Interior Senator, Iris Spranger, is under pressure to prevent a repeat of the riots that occurred during the turn of the year, contributing to her election victory earlier in the year.
- Amidst concerns of potential unrest, there have been discussions about banning fireworks in certain areas of newkölln, particularly in light of the war in Israel and Gaza.
- Despite the desire for a citywide fireworks ban, the state of Berlin is legally unable to achieve this due to federal regulations.
- The SPD Senate also plans to implement firecracker bans in specific locations for safety reasons, addressing the incidents of violence towards the police in previous years.
- Fire departments and police are working to improve their coordination and communication, aiming to enhance safety on New Year's Eve with close analysis of threat situations and guarding volunteer firefighters in vulnerable areas.
- Criminality on New Year's Eve has impacted various German cities, including Berlin, with firecrackers being thrown at police forces in Schöneberg, Gesundbrunnen, Spandau, and other cities.
- The federal police, alongside local police and fire departments, will be tasked with maintaining public safety during Germany's New Year's Eve celebrations, looking to avoid any further escalations in criminality or violence.
Source: www.stern.de
