Police work overtime for CoV measures demonstrations
On Sunday shortly after 2 p.m., the participants of the demonstration gathered on Mozartplatz. All parties – including the FPÖ – had called in advance to refrain from public rallies on the Christmas weekend in the interests of the Christmas peace (more on this at salzburg.ORF.at)
Police officers working overtime
The police were also on duty on Christmas Day, said the Salzburg State Police Director, Bernhard Rausch: “Of course, it is clear that the police officers who die are challenged and that leisure blocks are repeatedly interrupted. Nevertheless, we make sure that we plan our operations according to the situation. That means that we don’t have too many and, on the other hand, not too few staff. “
In the run-up to EVERY meeting one tries to get in contact with the applicants in order to mutually clarify the necessary needs, added the state police director. “Of course, we also try to put a large part of the workforce out of regular service, but of course it won’t work without that, which means we also have to order staff to work overtime,” said Rausch.
Police have been on duty more often since the CoV pandemic began
Because of the coronavirus measures, part of the police’s range of tasks is no longer applicable, such as being present at football matches or other major events. However, the police are also required to monitor the measures and regulations. Overall, there is also more to be done. “The officers are also very stressed, but until now it was still possible to guarantee the tasks,” assures Bernhard Rausch.
During the demonstrations, one of the tasks of the police is to check that masks are required. Also on Sunday there were numerous warnings and reports for non-compliance with the mask requirement. For others, the demonstration went off peacefully and without major incidents – a picture that the police had also seen during the demonstrations in recent weeks and months.
“Thank you to all police officers”
But meetings with high numbers of participants are also a great challenge for the police because they involve a high level of personnel, said the state police director. “At the moment it is still affordable. But let me take this opportunity to say a big thank you to all the police officers, who die here every day, almost every weekend, for our safety. “