Bregenz Deputy Mayor Sandra Schoch is currently exchanging blows on social networks with the Vienna police.
Background: The Vorarlberg climate activist Marina Canaval reports on allegedly disproportionate and degrading behavior by the Vienna police towards the arrested activists on the fringes of a protest.
“Then your panties will be pulled down”
As Marina Canaval outraged on her Twitter account, the activists were initially forced to undress. But that’s not all: “Then your panties will be pulled down and your vulva inspected,” the activist continues to explain her experiences. She also speaks directly to the Vienna police: “There has never been a gun, machete or similar in my panties. Next time you can leave this absolutely disproportionate measure. Be better,” she addresses directly to the Vienna State Police Headquarters.
Bregenz Deputy Mayor sees scandal
For the deputy mayor of Bregenz, Sandra Schoch, reason enough to criticize the actions of the Vienna police. What happened here is a scandal, the Green politician complained on Twitter. The procedure is absolutely disproportionate in the case of an administrative violation. Among the many outraged comments on the actions of the Vienna police are other politicians, including the women’s spokeswoman for the Vienna Greens, Viktoria Spielmann, and the Green National Councilor Georg Bürstmayr.
Vienna police respond
The Vienna police, who were directly addressed, also spoke up with a clarification: “This is not a scandal, but customary: When the person is handed over to the detention center, a search is carried out in accordance with §40 SPG. This ensures that the person arrested does not have any objects with them that could be dangerous for you or others.”, because, “You would be surprised what we have already found in underwear. And of course the search is carried out by employees of the same sex.”, is the answer of the Viennese Police on Schoch’s allegations.
Vorarlberg police confirm statements by Viennese colleagues
Schoch also explains in her post that there is no such procedure in Vorarlberg in this context. The Vorarlberg police contradicted this when asked by VOL.AT. “Of course we comply with the legal requirements in Vorarlberg.” As the Viennese police have already explained, people who are arrested or temporarily arrested are always checked carefully, including looking into their underpants. No officer would do this check for fun, it’s more about preventing the arrested person from injuring themselves or even endangering the police officers.
It remains to be seen whether the Green Deputy Mayor and the climate activist will be satisfied with this answer.
