Decline in Incidents of Crime and Sexual Assault in Swimming Pools - Enhanced pool safety: Significant drop in criminal activities and sexual misconduct reported in public swimming pools
In Baden-Württemberg, the latest statistics from the State Criminal Police Office (LKA) reveal a mixed picture regarding crime in public pools. While the overall number of crimes has decreased by nearly 9%, the number of foreign suspects has seen an 8% rise, accounting for nearly two-thirds of suspects in public and outdoor pools.
Despite this decrease, the number of sexual violence cases remains significantly higher than the numbers from 2022 and above the values from the years before the pandemic. Necdet Mantar, the chairman of the Association of Public Baths Baden-Württemberg (ARGE), attributes this to a lower threshold for violence, citing incidents involving young and aggressive visitors and an above-average number of suspects without a German passport.
Recent anecdotal reports suggest an increase in such incidents in parts of Germany, but specific data for Baden-Württemberg is scarce. The Ministry of the Interior reports an improvement in the situation since the sharp increase in crimes after the COVID-19 peak, but no detailed statistics or official reports are available to definitively describe the trend in Baden-Württemberg's public pool crime rates since the pandemic.
In an effort to address ongoing issues, public pools in Baden-Württemberg introduced additional security measures such as ID checks, bag searches, and video surveillance during the summer of 2023, due to repeated incidents of riots and fights. However, it remains unclear whether these measures contributed to the overall decrease in crimes.
Last year, the number of cases of sexual violence in Baden-Württemberg's swimming pools decreased by 8.6%, from 187 cases in 2021 to 171 cases in 2022. Notable incidents include a 27-year-old allegedly harassing two 14-year-old girls at the Besigheim public pool and an 8-year-old being allegedly touched inappropriately by an unknown perpetrator in Eltlingen.
Necdet Mantar asserts that the number of crimes in public pools is still within acceptable limits. However, the ongoing challenges and the need for continued vigilance are clear, as incidents of insults, threats, physical altercations, and sexual assaults continue to occur at swimming pools across Baden-Württemberg.
- The community policy in Baden-Württemberg might benefit from incorporating stricter measures to ensure health-and-wellness, particularly focusing on sexual-health and general-news matters, given the rise in sexual violence cases in public pools.
- As the science of criminal behavior evolves, it would be prudent to revise and update the employment policy of pool supervisors and security personnel, emphasizing training in crime-and-justice-related issues, to maintain a safe environment for the public.
- Meanwhile, in light of the increase in foreign suspects, a comprehensive analysis of employment policies is necessary to ensure fair representation and cultural sensitivity among staff members, contributing to a harmonious and productive community environment in public pools.
