New Year's Eve 2017: Berlin to provide 'safe zone' for women during celebrations

New security measures introduced at Brandenburg Gate party

Hundreds of thousands of people are expected to attend Germany's biggest New Year's Eve party, and security measures will be high (EPA)

Women attending New Year's Eve celebrations in Berlin this year will be able to attend a purpose-built "safe zone" if they are being harassed or threatened.

The new security measures are being introduced at the Brandenburg Gate party.

The news comes after hundreds of women reported being sexually harassed and assaulted at New Year’s Eve celebrations in Cologne two years ago.

More than 1,000 criminal complaints were filed by women, many of them alleging sexual assault and robbery, after women were targeted around the city’s main station in the early hours of New Year’s Day in 2016.

Women reported being attacked by men from migrant backgrounds.

Other security measures are to be introduced for this year’s celebrations in Berlin, including a ban on alcoholic drinks and large bags such as rucksacks.

The police have asked women to come forward to the “contact point/protection zone” if they are being harassed or if someone is too close or touching them.

The zone will be monitored by the German Red Cross.

“Make yourself known in any such case, speak to other revellers and ask for help,” a statement read. “You can turn here if you feel harassed.”

While some have praised the organisers for taking action against sexual violence, others have suggested the zone could be discriminatory, and that establishing a safe zone does not tackle the real problem and does not address perpetrators of sexual violence.