Wiesn police officers walk up to 20 kilometers a day: officials reveal what makes the operation so demanding
Created: 09/23/2022, 07:14
By Phillip Plesch
Lots to do: the Munich police at the Oktoberfest 2022. © IMAGO / Smith
Millions of people will make a pilgrimage to the Oktoberfest again this year, unfortunately criminal offenses are inevitable.
An afternoon with the Munich police at the Wiesn.
Munich – The officials stride across the festival grounds with brisk steps.
Always in groups of at least six.
They are an eye-catcher for the Wiesn visitors - with their uniforms, the caps and their equipment they make something.
One of the group's officers stops.
The others form a circle so everyone has their backs covered.
The policewoman gives a boy a small trailer.
The boy is happy, the policewoman beams back.
Then it goes on.
During the day, this is a frequently seen scene when accompanying the Munich police.
In the afternoon it is rather quiet.
In the evening, when the number of visitors and blood alcohol levels rise, it gets rougher and the frequency of the bets increases.
Beer mugs are sometimes flown towards the officials.
"Fortunately, that hasn't happened to me yet," says Mark Sohn.
Certain admission rules also ensure more safety at the Wiesn.
Police on duty at the Oktoberfest: Most of them "measures to avert danger"
He is one of around 15 group leaders who are on duty for the Munich police at the Oktoberfest.
"The majority of the operations are measures to avert danger," says the police commissioner.
If someone doesn't want to leave a Oktoberfest tent, misbehaves, up to and including bodily harm.
As in everyday life, an emergency call is then made and the company's own operations center on the Theresienwiese informs the nearest patrol.
That's why the officials are out and about on the festival grounds as much as possible.
"On some Wiesn Fridays or Saturdays we cover 20 kilometers," says Sohn.
The first few days at the Oktoberfest this year were rather quiet.
The officials show a lot of presence and are therefore also the contact persons for questions of all kinds. "We can usually answer which tent we are going to, but of course it's not possible to organize a table," jokes the group leader.
In all good spirits: The tendency is that the numbers of operations are comparable to 2019 despite fewer visitors. Exact figures will follow from the police at the weekend.
Oktoberfest in Munich: 600 police officers on duty at the Wiesn this year
A total of around 600 police officers are on duty during the Oktoberfest.
"Everyone is here voluntarily, but there are many interested parties," says Sohn.
After all, the officials here can combine a very special time with the job for all Munich residents.
Sohn names communication as one of the biggest difficulties at the Oktoberfest.
On the one hand because of the partly increased alcohol level among the visitors and on the other hand because of the international audience.
That's why the people of Munich are happy about support from abroad.
Officials from France and Italy, for example, are on duty at the Wiesn.
"That helps," says Sohn.
Oktoberfest visitors from abroad are thrilled to be able to converse in their native language.
In addition, pickpocketing experts come from the Czech Republic, for example, to support their German colleagues.
The operational concept of the police works.
And the Wiesn is a little safer again.
