Weilheim: Fewer crimes - but police "at the limit"

Created: 05/07/2022, 16:00

By: Magnus Reitinger

Weilheim's chief of police, Harald Bauer, was pleased with fewer crimes and concerned about staff development.

Left Mayor Loth.

© Gronau

The number of crimes in Weilheim fell to its lowest level in 16 years in 2021.

So little work for the law enforcement officers on site?

Not at all, according to police chief Harald Bauer in his report to the city council: In terms of personnel, they are “absolutely at the limit”.

Weilheim

– As far as crime is concerned, the numbers are pleasing all round.

With a total of 1053 registered crimes in Weilheim in 2021, the lowest level in the last 16 years was reached, said Harald Bauer in his current security report in the city council.

Bodily harm fell by 20 percent compared to the previous year, and theft by as much as 44 percent.

"Corona certainly plays a role in this," explained the head of the Weilheim Police Inspectorate: "A lack of festivals, a lack of nightlife, a lack of public life overall" are reflected here - "let us be surprised at what the numbers will look like next year".

25 meetings with "corona reference"

The law enforcement officers, on the other hand, had more to do with demonstrations.

65 meetings were looked after by the officials in the city area in 2021, six more than in the previous year.

25 of them were related to the Corona virus.

In previous years there were “only a handful” of demos, according to Bauer: “People’s willingness to gather is noticeably increasing.

I don't think that's wrong for a democracy either."

Drumming at demos: "You have to tolerate a lot there"

City council member Ullrich Klinkicht ("Weilheim Miteinander"), who acted partly as organizer, praised the officials for their "sensitive behavior" at the Monday demos.

Rüdiger Imgart (AfD) also gave Weilheim's police a "great compliment".

On the other hand, Brigitte Gronau (Greens) referred to complaints from business people about the massive drumming during such protests: "Can you do something there?" Regarding the noise, there are decibel specifications, Bauer replied, "but you have to tolerate a relatively large amount";

the police have “no power” in this respect.

It is also difficult for the authorities to prohibit certain places.

"The right to assembly is a very important good under the Constitution," said the PI boss, "there are very good reasons for refusals."

Weilheim's police chief: "Tasks grow faster than staff"

CSU spokeswoman Marion Lunz-Schmieder asked about the personnel situation and the status of overtime at Weilheim's police during the city council meeting - and thus hit a sore point.

"We're absolutely at the limit, definitely," said Bauer.

In addition to everyday tasks, there would be assignments to support health authorities and foreigners authorities, at the Oberammergau Passion Play, most recently at the G7 summit in Elmau: "Somehow I have the feeling that the Bavarian police can do everything," summarized the PI head.

Although there are increases in personnel throughout Bavaria, they "are not arriving at the base, we are becoming fewer rather than more," explained Bauer: "The needs and tasks are growing faster than the staff."

Security guard: urgently needed new recruits

Against this background, the security guard in Weilheim is also doing important work, the police chief emphasized.

Its members were on duty for 618 hours in 2021.

But the security guard on site currently counts "unfortunately only six relatives".

Interested citizens are therefore urgently needed.

You experience “a lot of recognition” in this task, Bauer advertised – and also referred to the eight euros that you get for it per hour.

Complaints about cyclists

When looking back at the “traffic situation” in Weilheim, Bauer focused in particular on cyclists in his brief review.

Cyclists were involved in 41 accidents in 2021, of which 38 people were injured and nine were seriously injured.

There were also eight accidents involving pedelecs, in all of which people were injured.

All in all, "cycling is becoming more and more popular, thank God," said the police chief, and the number of cyclists in Weilheim is increasing noticeably.

In this context, BfW representative Claus Reindl criticized "cyclists who disregard the rules".

Bauer agreed: As far as cycling on sidewalks is concerned, he spoke of a “fight against windmills”.

"Incredibly dangerous", especially for the cyclists themselves, is driving at night without lights.