It's bathing weather, the swimming pools are full - but not just during the day. Many open-air swimming pools in central Hessen are struggling with night-time visitors. Stadtwerke Gießen is like many other swimming pool operators.
The uninvited visitors not only bathe illegally, but they also often cause a lot of dirt and damage the grounds, to the detriment of all bathers.
"The victims of the uninvited guests are not only us, the SWG, but also the residents in particular," explained Reinhard Paul, Head of Swimming Pools and Technical Director of SWG. "Because for the neighbourhood of our two swimming pools in Kleinlinden and Lützellinden, as well as the Ringallee outdoor pool, the nocturnal disturbances are unacceptable," says Paul.
Night-time visits are not without consequence
Anyone caught visiting one of the SWG swimming pools at night will not only be banned from swimming, but will also be charged with trespassing. The municipal utilities are increasingly deploying security staff at night to track down black bathers. The police station has also been informed of the night-time incidents by the municipal utilities and is increasingly patrolling the area around the outdoor pools.
Last year, the municipal utilities were already able to identify a number of clandestine bathers.