Steintor in Hanover: police officers check bars
In a shisha bar near the stone gate, the police officers’ device beeps loudly, warning of too much carbon monoxide. The head of operations equipment shows a value of 79, the limit value is 30. “Why is the ventilation system not running?”, Asks the operations manager, a 31-year-old police superintendent, the operator. The manager of the bar protests his innocence with many gestures and words. “I’ve told my co-worker a hundred times. He made a mistake. ”
It is just before 10 p.m. on Saturday: seven civil servants are out and about. “Focus control of commercial enterprises” is their mandate in official German. “Corona was the starting point for this form of control,” explains Police Commissioner Jan-Hendrik Benn (38).
Suspected tax evasion
A song booms loudly through the shisha bar: “Just chill. We’re leaving. ”The manager, a short, slim man with a long black beard, has to explain himself again. The police confiscated about a kilo of tobacco. The herb comes from prepared tobacco heads and has already been stuffed into the shisha pipes – this is forbidden. Investigators cannot see where the tobacco comes from. There is suspicion of tax evasion.
In addition, when checking guests, some may not provide proof of vaccination. In addition, the police discovered deficiencies in fire protection, the fire extinguishers did not work. “I will support you running the shisha bar tonight,” says the head of operations.
The Hanover police force has been increasing its presence in the Steintorviertel for a long time. Priority controls and presence are the tactics. A total of around 40 officials were on duty around Hanover’s entertainment district on Saturday. In the second shisha bar that is checked, the host is very cooperative. However, his shop is jam-packed, women and men sitting close together – spruced up for Saturday night. But every second seat in shisha bars has to be left free. The landlord falls from the clouds: “Ten days ago the police were there. It said: You can fill up the shop at 2 G. ”That would also apply to his bar – if he were to give up tobacco consumption. But he won’t.
Landlord was not up to date
The head of operations explains to him that the infection situation has worsened. “You are obliged to keep yourself up to date.” Guests at the door are also turned away. A young woman with gigantic eyelashes in a white faux fur jacket says piqued: “I beg your pardon?” When she is not allowed to enter the shop with her friend. The bar was visibly emptied within a few minutes. More than a dozen guests are waiting in front of the door to be let in.
At least when it comes to Corona, the evening is calm. By the end of the mission at 4 a.m., officials only recorded five violations of the corona rules. “The innkeepers adhere to the 2-G rule,” says the police superintendent. It is certainly also because party celebrations are not in times of the pandemic. Scholvinstrasse is visited at 11 p.m. “like on Tuesday evening,” as one officer says. In July it looked different. Since three discos are expected to be temporarily closed. A series of violations of the mask requirement were registered, guests without test results and overcrowded shops, noted the police.
A blue Mercedes van is parked in front of the “Kiez Club” on Scholvinstrasse. In the hold, a woman wearing a headscarf and protective clothing is waiting for people willing to test. “That looks suspicious,” says the head of operations. However, the check did not reveal anything noticeable.
By Thomas Nagel