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The Guardian
2 days ago
- Automotive
- The Guardian
Mould, vermin and ceiling leaks: German police say they work in ‘embarrassing' conditions
Germany's biggest police union has complained about the dilapidated state of hundreds of police stations across the country and a fleet of aged vehicles, saying conditions are a threat to officers' health and an insult to their dignity. 'Decades-old toilet bowls, mould in the offices, vermin, broken heating units and holes in the ceiling that let the rain in,' said Hagen Husgen of the GdP union, citing just a few of the complaints his organisation had received from members. 'Some of the conditions our people have to endure there are hazardous to their health,' he told the regional daily Münchner Merkur. Husgen said police cruisers in Europe's top economy, which prides itself on its automotive prowess, were often so old and beat-up that they were 'shameful' and 'embarrassing' to officers on their patrols. 'Vehicles with torn seats and half a million kilometres [on the odometer], broken gear sticks. When citizens see this, it does not reflect well on the police,' he said, blaming the problem in part on privatisation of police car maintenance. 'It's a job that's fun when the conditions are right. But when you take a closer look at the circumstances, sometimes I just want to throw my hands up in despair.' Husgen said the dismal conditions in many police stations were compounding 'big problems' recruiting young officers. The trade union supplied Merkur with a series of photos showing what it said were ramshackle police buildings with gaping holes in the ceiling and a mouse under a desk as well as cars with foam spilling out of the seats. The GdP said Germany's 16 federal states needed more support from Berlin to improve conditions for police officers and enable them to carry out their duties. The German parliament in March approved plans spearheaded by the then chancellor elect, Friedrich Merz, to relax the country's strict debt brake, allowing an increase in defence spending and creating a €500bn 'special fund' or Sondervermögen for the next decade dedicated to infrastructure overhauls, including increased financing for the federal police. The GdP has said this spending will be 'far from sufficient' to address the dramatic shortfalls at the state level and indicated a separate Sondervermögen would be required for domestic security. 'In Germany, we in the police forces have an investment backlog in the double-digit billion (euro) range for our property alone,' Husgen said. Asked about the GdP's complaints, a spokesperson for the federal interior ministry said police matters including police stations and the vehicle fleet 'are constitutionally within the jurisdiction of the regional states'. The ministry said the federal government assisted regional police forces in a range of areas including through special programmes for equipment, digital communications and IT infrastructure. The federal government, whose term is due to run until 2029, has also promised to increase financing for special police forces as part of plans to strengthen the domestic security authorities, the spokesperson added. The GdP, founded in 1950, calls itself the 'world's largest police trade union', with more than 200,000 members across Germany.
The Guardian
3 days ago
- Automotive
- The Guardian
Mould, vermin and ceiling leaks: German police say they work in ‘embarrassing' conditions
Germany's biggest police union has complained about the dilapidated state of hundreds of police stations across the country and a fleet of aged vehicles, saying conditions are a threat to officers' health and an insult to their dignity. 'Decades-old toilet bowls, mould in the offices, vermin, broken heating units and holes in the ceiling that let the rain in,' said Hagen Husgen of the GdP union, citing just a few of the complaints his organisation had received from members. 'Some of the conditions our people have to endure there are hazardous to their health,' he told the regional daily Münchner Merkur. Husgen said police cruisers in Europe's top economy, which prides itself on its automotive prowess, were often so old and beat-up that they were 'shameful' and 'embarrassing' to officers on their patrols. 'Vehicles with torn seats and half a million kilometres [on the odometer], broken gear sticks. When citizens see this, it does not reflect well on the police,' he said, blaming the problem in part on privatisation of police car maintenance. 'It's a job that's fun when the conditions are right. But when you take a closer look at the circumstances, sometimes I just want to throw my hands up in despair.' Husgen said the dismal conditions in many police stations were compounding 'big problems' recruiting young officers. The trade union supplied Merkur with a series of photos showing what it said were ramshackle police buildings with gaping holes in the ceiling and a mouse under a desk as well as cars with foam spilling out of the seats. The GdP said Germany's 16 federal states needed more support from Berlin to improve conditions for police officers and enable them to carry out their duties. The German parliament in March approved plans spearheaded by the then chancellor elect, Friedrich Merz, to relax the country's strict debt brake, allowing an increase in defence spending and creating a €500bn 'special fund' or Sondervermögen for the next decade dedicated to infrastructure overhauls, including increased financing for the federal police. The GdP has said this spending will be 'far from sufficient' to address the dramatic shortfalls at the state level and indicated a separate Sondervermögen would be required for domestic security. 'In Germany, we in the police forces have an investment backlog in the double-digit billion (euro) range for our property alone,' Husgen said. Asked about the GdP's complaints, a spokesperson for the federal interior ministry said police matters including police stations and the vehicle fleet 'are constitutionally within the jurisdiction of the regional states'. The ministry said the federal government assisted regional police forces in a range of areas including through special programmes for equipment, digital communications and IT infrastructure. The federal government, whose term is due to run until 2029, has also promised to increase financing for special police forces as part of plans to strengthen the domestic security authorities, the spokesperson added. The GdP, founded in 1950, calls itself the 'world's largest police trade union', with more than 200,000 members across Germany.
Local Germany
06-08-2025
- Politics
- Local Germany
What have three months of stricter border controls in Germany achieved?
In May, Interior Minister Dobrindt announced a change in German migration policy and introduced stricter border controls - a measure which he said would remain in place until further notice. Poland responded with its own border controls, while critics warned that the federal police would be overwhelmed. Have there actually been more rejections? Not if you look at the figures alone. According to figures from the Federal Ministry of the Interior available to the AFP news agency, a total of 9,254 people were turned away at the borders between May 8 and July 31—that's around 770 per week. The federal police recently published a figure of 9,506, which includes not only rejections but also a small number of so-called pushbacks. This is the case when refugees have already entered German territory and are forced to leave the country again. READ ALSO: Who is the new German minister in charge of immigration? At 770 per week, the number of rejections is roughly on par with the first four months of 2025 and the fourth quarter of 2024. However, Dobrindt regularly points to the long-term effect of border controls. These have led to fewer refugees making their way to Germany overall, argues the CSU minister. Where were most of the rejections? At the border with France, where a total of 2,038 rejections were recorded between May 8 and July 31. There were also four-digit numbers of rejections at the borders with Poland (1,816), Switzerland (1,760), and Austria (1,623). This was followed by the Netherlands (706), the Czech Republic (576), Luxembourg (208), Belgium (413), and Denmark (114). Advertisement In May and June, most of those turned back came from Afghanistan, followed by Algeria, Eritrea, and Somalia. No breakdown by country of origin was available for July. The police union warned of an overload for the federal police. What is its view now? 'The federal police are still under a lot of pressure from the increased internal border controls,' Andreas Roßkopf, the GdP chairman responsible for the federal police, told AFP. Some departments have still changed their duty rosters and are 'largely foregoing training and further education,' Roßkopf added. 'Leave to reduce overtime is also being granted only on a restrictive basis.' According to the Federal Ministry of the Interior, the number of officers deployed at the borders each day was increased from 11,000 to 14,000 when the stricter controls began. That is just under a third of the total federal police force. The federal government has always emphasized that the measure cannot be maintained in the long term. Is there now a shortage of staff at airports and train stations? Critics have feared this. Due to the summer travel rush, these locations are extremely busy, which means a lot of work for the police. The Ministry of the Interior is keeping the number of officers at airports and train stations secret for 'tactical reasons.' According to the GdP, staffing levels are 'almost identical' to last year. Advertisement 'But of course, we are lacking support from the riot police and mobile units,' said Roßkopf. 'Especially with the soccer leagues now starting, with the high volume of soccer fans traveling by train, this support is urgently needed,' warned the union representative. 'Scarier things to come': How foreigners view Germany's immigration crackdown For several years now, there has been a shortage of around 4,000 officers at the more than 5,700 train stations and stops alone. According to Roßkopf's forecast, staffing shortages are possible as a result. 'With rising crime at train stations and increasing violence among traveling soccer fans, we consider this to be a cause for concern,' said Roßkopf. The Interior Ministry, however, has given the all-clear: 'It is ensured that the federal police will fulfill their legally assigned tasks.' How are border controls affecting overtime? That's difficult to say in general terms. According to the ministry, the federal police had accumulated 2.9 million hours of overtime by June 30. This figure is likely to have risen due to the additional workload at the borders. However, the majority of the overtime has been accumulated by officers over many years: as of March 31, 2025, the figure already stood at 2.4 million hours. There is no breakdown of the reasons for the overtime, including that accumulated since May 8.
DW
26-07-2025
- Entertainment
- DW
Germany updates: Berlin expects huge turnout for Pride march – DW – 07/26/2025
Police are mounting a major operation to protect the Berlin Pride parade, with hundreds of thousands expected to attend. Merz and Merkel watch the opening performance of the Bayreuth Festival. DW has the latest. Berlin's Pride parade, known as Christopher Street Day (CSD), is expected to draw hundreds of thousands of attendees, making it one of the largest LGBTQ+ events in Europe. Meanwhile, Chancellor Friedrich Merz and his fellow party member and predecessor, Angela Merkel, are attending the opening performance of the Bayreuth Festival. Germany's renowned Bayreuth Festival of operas by Richard Wagner kicked off on Friday with a new production of "The Master-Singers of Nuremberg." Chancellor Friedrich Merz and former Chancellor Angela Merkel graced the red carpet for opening night, with both political figures reported to be great admirers of Wagner's music. Accompanied by his wife Charlotte, Merz described the evening as a "great production" featuring fantastic stage design and wonderful performers. The chancellor also used the occasion to reaffirm his commitment to the arts in Germany, emphasizing that this includes not only theatre, music and opera but also architecture and modern art. "We will defend this against all those who want it to be different," Merz said. Hundreds of thousands are expected in Germany's capital on Saturday to celebrate Berlin Pride or Christopher Street Day (CSD). A huge parade featuring 80 trucks is expected to pass through the city, starting at Leipziger Platz, then heading to Potsdamer Platz and Schöneberg, before ending at the Brandenburg Gate. The German Police Union (GdP) said Berlin authorities would mount a huge operation to protect the parade in the wake of several car ramming and terrorist attacks and due to the LGBTQ+ community being targeted by far-right extremists. Around 1,300 Berlin police officers will be deployed, supported by hundreds more from other German states. Two counterdemonstrations with an expected 400 participants have also been registered with the Berlin authorities. The Pride celebrations began on Friday with the unfurling of a massive rainbow flag outside the Reichstag building — the home of Germany's parliament. CSD organizers decided to display their own flag after the government rejected a request to hoist an official rainbow flag. Chancellor Friedrich Merz defended the decision, saying, "The Bundestag is not a circus tent," referring to Germany's lower house of parliament. Christopher Street Day is a reference to the location of the Stonewall Inn in New York City's Greenwich Village neighborhood, where a protest against police discrimination in 1969 kick-started the gay liberation movement. Welcome to DW's coverage of the latest developments in Germany on Saturday, July 26. Here you'll find breaking news, business, culture and sports as well as commentary from DW's team of correspondents. Berlin hosts one of Europe's largest LGBTQ+ Pride events, with hundreds of thousands of people expected to turn out for a glitzy parade through the streets of the German capital. The Bayreuth Festival, an annual summer music festival dedicated primarily to the operas of Richard Wagner, got underway on Friday night.
DW
10-07-2025
- Politics
- DW
German police complain about bad working conditions – DW – 07/10/2025
Since Germany introduced border controls, police have seen their workload increase. This adds to stress over racism, sexism and even sanitary facilities. The federal police commissioner helps find solutions. For months, there has been a heated debate about border controls. They are meant to be a rare exception within the European Union and the so-called Schengen area. But in reality, things look rather different at present. Germany has been among the first countries to tighten them, with the government aiming in this way to limit immigration, which is seen as a problem, especially by the rising far right. However, the rejections at the border of people seeking asylum, amid the stricter controls, have been a source of legal controversy. Interior Minister Alexander Dobrindt, who is in charge of domestic security, feels that his course of action has been justified in view of the falling numbers of people seeking asylum in Germany. Federal police who are turning people back at border crossings have seen a dramatic increase in working hours. According to the Federal Police Commissioner Uli Grötsch, as of May 2025, this task alone had cost police more than 720,000 hours of overtime. The official number of 285 rejections at the borders by the end of June is now offset by 2.8 million overtime hours for the Federal Police, the police union GdP told the newspaper. To view this video please enable JavaScript, and consider upgrading to a web browser that supports HTML5 video Grötsch was chosen for this newly created position as federal police commissioner by the German parliament in March 2024. Since then, he has visited more than 30 border control points to get as complete a picture as possible of the workload imposed on the 14,000 police that are carrying out the checks. The police commissioner deals with the Federal Police (Bundespolizei), which is responsible for border protection, railway police duties, aviation security, and the protection of federal agencies and buildings. The 16 German states, meanwhile, each have its own police force tasked with investigating crime and ensuring public security. Grötsch's first annual report presented on July 9, 2025, mentions the consequences that this workload has for family and profession. The increase in police at the borders takes resources from the federal riot police. Many of the officers deployed at the borders to Germany's nine neighboring countries leave gaps in regular services provided by police elsewhere. Grötsch also sees room for improvement in the provision of equipment and infrastructure. He said his first impressions had been "alarming." He cited the example of one checkpoint he visited between Germany and the Czech Republic, where there were still only portable toilets available to officers — the kind of plastic toilets otherwise found in long lines at open-air concerts or when a marathon takes place somewhere. Even last winter, federal police personnel had been forced to use these temporary toilet facilities, Grötsch said. "The Institute for Federal Real Estate, together with the state building authority in Bavaria, was not up to fixing a building already located at the site so that the sanitary rooms could be used again." The federal police commissioner said he also expected officers who are sending back people at the borders on orders from the interior minister to at last be given guarantees on the legality of their actions. Alexander Dobrindt has upheld his directive despite the fact that the administrative court in Berlin has ruled the practice of turning asylum seekers back at the border to be illegal under European law. "This is a question that must be dealt with by parliament and the federal government," Grötsch said. He said the apparent contradiction between the court ruling and the orders from politicians put the officers at the borders in a situation they found difficult to reconcile. Another focus in Grötsch's annual report was the issue of racial profiling, where people are stopped for spot checks only because of their appearance, mostly their skin color. In his report, Grötsch said he had had to do with 19 cases, often in connection with accusations of racism. He called for more sensitivity and empathy from all involved. He said police had to manage a difficult balancing act: "On one hand, they are being used to combat irregular immigration. And on the other hand, there is the very delicate matter of spot-checking people whose external appearance makes them seem to have come from the main countries of origin," he said, adding that these were indeed mainly countries in the Global South. To view this video please enable JavaScript, and consider upgrading to a web browser that supports HTML5 video The federal government's commissioner for migration, refugees and integration, Natalie Pawlik, has also highlighted the enormous strain put on federal police at the borders. At the same time, however, she stressed that "We have to work against racist incidents." She said public trust in the police was fostered by transparency and respect for all people. For this reason, Grötsch is seeking dialogue with the general public and also with researchers, an approach supported by Green parliamentarian Irene Mihalic. "His exchange with academics is making a significant contribution to remedying structural problems," said Mihalic, herself a trained police officer. Grötsch says he wants to help explain government actions, especially those of security agencies, to promote transparency. When he receives petitions from citizens who feel discriminated against or treated unlawfully by federal police authorities, Grötsch said he realizes how useful it is to have an independent body like the police commissioner for people to turn you're here: Every Tuesday, DW editors round up what is happening in German politics and society. You can sign up here for the weekly email newsletter, Berlin Briefing.
