The noise at night, the mess in the morning

The lakeside zone is popular. So popular that littering, noise nuisance, damage to property and even offences against life and limb occur again and again.

That there must have been an exuberant atmosphere on the shores of Lake Zug is often evident at sunrise, when the extent of the rubbish left behind and, on some occasions, the damage to public facilities, such as toilets, can be seen. The probability that sights like these will appear again in the morning can usually be judged the night before from the noise level. The Zug lakeside simply invites people to get together and have parties as the weather slowly gets warmer.

It’s clear to the Zug City Council and the Zug Police that the current corona situation has increased the pressure on the facilities. Young people, and young adults in particular, are increasingly drawn to the outdoor world after their social life has become virtually non-existent, and in some cases still is. This leads to happy get-togethers on the one hand, but also to occasional problems on the other, according to the city and the police.

"In fine weather and with rising temperatures, the lake shore is a popular place for young and old," explains City Councillor Urs Raschle, Head of Social Affairs, Environment and Security (SUS). The different interests of the various users cannot always be reconciled. He explains: "When large numbers of young people meet at the lake shore, this leads to conflicts of interest, including with local residents, especially on weekends and until late at night in the evenings."

Both he and the city council are aware that the situation is difficult. Waste problems and noise nuisances are particularly serious. "But there has also been vandalism in recent weeks, especially in toilet facilities."

Zug police experience the corona fatigue of local people
"People yearn for more freedom," says Thomas Armbruster, commander of the Zug Police, and Corona fatigue is clearly noticeable. "Young people, and young adults in particular, are increasingly struggling to accept the corona measures or the associated limitations," explains Armbruster. As temperatures have been rising, young people and young adults have started meeting in smaller and larger groups.

These meetings, in turn, pose challenges for the police, especially with regard to the current corona regulations, which currently only allow a gathering of 15 people in public spaces, Armbruster adds: "There is therefore a regular uniformed presence along the lake shore and other hotspots, and sometimes also officers in civilian clothing."

During these patrols, it has become clear that the young people are suffering from the restrictions. The police have a certain understanding for this, but their task is clear: "On the one hand, we have the task of controlling and enforcing compliance with the Covid regulations." On the other hand, the police must ensure an orderly coexistence of all interest groups, so that, for example, there is no excessive noise or problems due to littering. "We do this with a sense of proportion by seeking to have a conversation with the people, and include the people present in the responsibility for the situation," explains the police commander. However: "If citizens do not act with responsibility, and deliberately do not comply with the legal provisions, we will crack down. We consistently punish crimes such as property damage and other offences."

For reasons of prevention: WC facilities partially closed at night
Acts of vandalism are always a problem on the shores of Lake Zug. The municipal toilet facilities on the Weststrasse near the Bossard Arena, the Katastrophenbucht and Siehbach will therefore be closed from 11 p.m. until the next morning. The WC facility at the lower Landsgemeindeplatz remains open throughout.

Photo 1: Badly damaged toilet facility at the Katastrophenbucht in Zug on March 31.
Photo: Stadt Zug/PD
Photo 2: Litter on the Zug lakeside                 Reader photo

With regard to littering, the Department of Social Affairs, Environment and Security is working together with the Zug Police in "developing a package of measures against littering, vandalism and night-time disturbances. The measures range from prevention to repression," explains City Councillor Urs Raschle. Implementation is expected to begin in a few weeks.

"It is important for me to be clear at this point: we will continue to focus on dialogue, and there are many young people who do behave with consideration."

According to Thomas Armbruster, the Zug police are ready. "Between April and October, the city of Zug and the Zug police are planning a joint action to maintain calm, order and security in the public facilities of the city of Zug and, if necessary, to restore this," explains the commander. The aim is "to encourage the people present through dialogue to use the locations in such a way that all groups and residents can feel comfortable and safe." The aim is to show – with as little repression as possible, as Armbruster points out – that everyone must make their contribution in order to enable an orderly use in the long term.

The Zug police will be present by the public facilities early on the weekends, and poster campaigns are also planned. But: "If the dialogue strategy does not have the desired effect, additional measures are planned. For example, that the litter will sometimes left behind over a weekend and/or more littering checks will be carried out by civilian officers," says Thomas Armbruster.

As far as noise caused by music boxes is concerned, a revision of the noise regulations is intended to remedy the situation. Although music is tolerated at "non-disturbing volumes", the police can intervene if the "limit of the tolerable" is crossed.

Numerous noise complaints at weekends
Police commander Armbruster notes that noise complaints have increased at weekends. This is partly because people are increasingly at home because of the corona measures, and "reckless behaviour is thereby even more noticeable". The police are appealing to everyone to avoid disturbing noise, and to seek the conversation with anyone who may be making noise. Noise complaints to the Zug police are still possible, "but it is not always possible to ensure that patrols are available to come to the spot," explains Armbruster.

What will happen next this summer? According to Raschle, patrols are on the streets every night. "In order for the Zug police to be able to work more effectively and implement an increased presence, the city of Zug will refrain from the previous CIP patrols this summer." (CIP = contact, information, prevention). This makes more resources available for checks by police security assistants. "This is a clear sign of greater presence and controls. The aim is to promote cooperation at an early stage and preventively, and not to create conditions such as those that occurred in the city of St.Gallen ," says city councillor Urs Raschle.