After the Mitte district office issued a nocturnal alcohol ban for James-Simon-Park and Monbijoupark on Thursday, it was unclear until Friday evening how the police would ultimately enforce this. The request for administrative assistance was only received by the police on Friday.
“We are currently examining to what extent the request can be met in the short term,” it said. In general, however, the police are “in action every day in Berlin parks”. The authority was aware of the “considerations of the district in advance”. Just a week ago, the police repeatedly cleared James Simon Park because of the aggressive atmosphere.
Ironically, on Christopher Street Day (CSD), the alcohol ban in both parks came into force on Friday evening at 10 p.m. It is justified with party excesses in the past few weeks, damage, garbage and noise.
“Alcohol consumption is considered the main catalyst for mental and physical disinhibition” and is one “of the main reasons for the nightly gatherings of several hundred people,” according to the district office’s order.
District mayor Stephan von Dassel (Greens) “will not be on site for checks at the weekend”, not even the regulatory office, said a spokesman. The ban must “mainly be enforced by the police”.
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From next week, the security service will support the police on Fridays and Saturdays from 10 p.m. to 10:30 p.m. “within the available resources”. After talks with the police, the alcohol ban was “jointly assessed as expedient”.
It “has a preventive character above all” and allows for issuing dismissals and ensuring alcohol. If necessary, a warning of 50 euros or a fine of 100 to 3000 euros could be levied. The district does not want to accept “the impairment of its green spaces” and “violent excesses” there.
Experts expect that the party crowd will now switch to other parks – such as the Mauerpark in Pankow. The district office there rejects an alcohol ban, but considers it disproportionate – and warns against lawsuits.
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The police union (GdP) also criticized the ban. It is not “the big hit”, will not “really change anything about the situation” and “is ultimately nothing more than a helpless attempt to shirk responsibility here,” said GdP spokesman Benjamin Jendro.
“In view of the upcoming CSD, security in outdoor pools and the everyday fight against crime, the police are not exactly bored and overstaffed,” said Jendro.
District Mayor Stephan von Dassel (Greens) announced an alcohol ban a few days ago in an interview with the Tagesspiegel. A working group is already in session in the Senate administration to find a city-wide solution to the phenomenon of mass parties at night.
