From Saturday: compulsory identification and fewer visitors to Berlin's swimming pools

Employees of the security service "Security GSO" walk along the edge of the pool in the Prinzenbad.

After repeated violence in Berlin's open-air swimming pools, operators and the state government rely on stricter security measures.

As of this Saturday ( July 15), entry to the pools will only be possible with an ID card, as announced by the Berliner Bäder-Betriebe (BBB) on Friday. In addition to their identity card, visitors may show their driving licence or a student ID. In order to avoid overcrowded pools, admission stops should be made much earlier than before and security staff should be increased, the statement added.

More safety and easing the burden on employees

The aim of the measures is "to make the summer and open-air swimming pools safer and thus more attractive for visitors and at the same time to relieve the employees of the pools", a spokeswoman of the Bäder-Betriebe explained. Previously, a new working group had met with representatives of the pool operators, the police and the Senate's internal administration. With the new security measures, the pool operators and the state government want to keep rioters out of the pools in the future. Berlin's mayor Kai Wegner (CDU) and interior senator Iris Spranger (SPD) stressed on Thursday after a visit to the Prinzenbad in Kreuzberg that "no lawless areas" will be allowed there. Although the operators of the pools are primarily responsible for safety, the state government also has a duty.

Mobile police guards at four pools

The Berlin police will be represented by mobile guards at four locations in the future, a spokesperson for the Senate's interior administration announced on Friday. He named Columbiabad, Prinzenbad, the summer pool at Insulaner and the summer pool in Pankow as the locations. The state government is also planning video surveillance at the entrances to Columbiabad and Prinzenbad. It was initially unclear when this would be installed. On Friday, the Bäderbetriebe said that "further measures to pacify the summer pools are being prepared".

Columbiabad to reopen on Monday

The incident was triggered by altercations in outdoor pools in Neukölln and Kreuzberg that made national headlines. The Columbiabad in Neukölln was evacuated last Sunday. Currently, the popular bath is closed. It is not due to reopen until this Monday ( July 17), according to the Bäder-Betriebe.