Cologne celebrations “New Year’s Eve 2016 will be marked by a huge police presence”

Cologne · Cologne authorities want to avoid a repeat of last year’s mayhem on New Year’s Eve. Security measures have been ramped up and the city assures party goers that they can celebrate in a secure environment.

 Die Computergrafik zeigt die geplante Lichtinstallation von Philipp Geist auf dem Domplatz.

Die Computergrafik zeigt die geplante Lichtinstallation von Philipp Geist auf dem Domplatz.

Foto: Stadt Köln

Cologne Police Chief Jürgen Mathies said on Monday that New Year’s Eve celebrations in 2016 will be secured by a large contingency of police. No other event has had such a negative impact on the image of the city in the past decades as that what took place on New Year’s Eve of 2015 in the area near the Cologne Cathedral. Large groups of men shot off fireworks with wild abandon and grabbed at women. Because many refugees were amongst those men, it resulted in a strained climate in a society which had just taken in around a million refugees. For the city, a repeat of such events is to be prevented at any cost. The price will be a New Year’s Eve celebration with high security.

1,500 officers from the state police will be dispatched to the event this year - whereas last year that number was around 140. 600 officers from the Ordnungsamt (public order officers) will be on duty as well as private security employees, making their way through Cologne streets and public squares. More than 300 police will be on foot patrol, dressed in bright jackets and canvassing areas at the cathedral, the Altstadt (old town) and the river banks to give people a more secure feeling through their presence. Another 800 federal police officers will be deployed to areas such as train stations and trains so they can see who is making their way to Cologne.

More video security will be set up with better cameras. Last year, it became difficult to identify offenders because of insufficient video footage. Video cameras will be stationary and also mobile. At the cathedral, there will be a “Schutzzone” (protected zone) fenced off with entrances and exits. Fireworks will not be allowed in that zone. The city has also promised greater lighting at public areas in the inner city.

For pedestrians, they will not be allowed on the Hohenzollern Bridge between the Cologne Hauptbahnfhof (Cologne central train station) and the train station in Cologne-Deutz. Last year, both sides of the bridge became filled to a dangerous point.

The city presented its security concept in a large room at the Rathaus (Town Hall) in Cologne on Monday. They are trying to show the event in a positive light with signs that say “Kommt gut ins Neue Jahr! Fröhlich und sicher Silvester feiern in Cologne!” This translates approximately to wish people a happy celebration into the New Year, telling them that they can celebrate in good cheer and in a safe environment in Cologne.

(Orig. text: Jonas-Erik Schmidt, Richard Heister)

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