Male migrants allowed back in swimming pool after sensitivity class

Cologne, Germany (dpa) - A group of male asylum seekers who were banned from a public swimming pool in western Germany after women complained of sexual harassment may once again dive in, after taking lessons on emancipation and proper behaviour.Germany is cracking down on abusive sexual behaviour by migrants after mass groping attacks on January 1 in nearby Cologne.The men, who live in a hostel in Bornheim, a city on the outskirts of Bonn, had been offered access to the nearby pool as part of a package of benefits while they await legal residency.Markus Schnapka, Bornheim‘s deputy mayor for social welfare, said none of the pool incidents had amounted to a criminal offence, but both pool staff and a growing number of female bathers objected to the men‘s behaviour.Schnapka said the restoration of pool privileges had been scheduled after the access was revoked to give the men time to take classes about how to deal with women in German society. He said the classes are set to continue.The men would be allowed in again once they reformed. He said the men had understood why they were banned. "Once our social workers tell us that they have got the message, we‘ll terminate the measure," he said.