By Axel Lier
Anyone who is arrested by the Berlin police and has to hand in their clothes at the prison collection point will receive a replacement. But the stocks in the clothing store are now almost exhausted – the authority is therefore launching an unusual appeal.
“As is also customary in other federal states, we therefore ask you to provide clothing that is no longer required in the form of an anonymous donation,” according to an internal police mail from the Central Special Services Directorate.
Prisoners are stripped of their clothing after their arrest, for example because DNA evidence is being secured. So far, they have been equipped with replacement clothing from the old police stocks: discarded green tracksuits, beige trousers and sports shoes – without laces.
“These old stocks have now been used up and the new purchases are now exceeding the budget,” the SOS Mail continues.
According to the police, clothing in sizes M, L and XL is needed – T-shirts, sweatshirts/sweaters, shirts, trousers, jackets and shoes from size 42. Apparently it is mostly men who are arrested and for whom replacement clothes are missing…
The donations for the clothing store must be neutral (no political messages) and clean! They can be picked up by employees at their colleagues’ offices or handed in directly at the warehouse in Lankwitz.
“Thank you very much in advance to everyone who contributes to a pragmatic and resource-saving procedure,” it says at the end.