German Federal Police

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Badge of the BPOL

The Bundespolizei (or BPOL) is the federal police force of Germany. It is subordinate to the Federal Ministry of the Interior (Bundesministerium des Innern). Ordinary police forces are under the administration of the individual German states (Bundesländer).

Car of the Bundespolizei with Thermographic camera

The Bundespolizei was previously known as the Bundesgrenzschutz (BGS) ("Federal Border Protection") until July 1st, 2005 when the law renaming the BGS as the BPOL was enacted. Prior to 1994 BPOL members had combatant status.

The BPOL has the following missions:

border security, to include passport control and the provision of coast guard services.
protection of federal buildings and foreign embassies in the two Federal capitals of Berlin and Bonn; they also protect the two highest German courts (Bundesverfassungsgericht and Bundesgerichtshof) in Karlsruhe
providing the federal government's mobile response force for internal security events,
providing transportation security at international airports and on the German railways
provides counter-terrorism forces (GSG 9).
provides air (or sky) marshals.
supporting international police missions for the UN and EU in Kosovo, Sudan, Liberia, Afghanistan, Gaza, Moldavia and Georgia.
document adviser for airlines around the world
inhouse security for German embassies in several countries
It is one of several civil organisations providing rescue helicopter service.

The Bundespolizei can also be used to reinforce state police if requested to do so by a state (Land) government. The BPOL maintains these reserve forces to deal with major demonstrations, disturbances or emergencies to supplement the capabilities of the State Operational Support Units. Several highly trained detachments are available for crisis situations requiring armored cars, water cannon or other special equipment.

The BPOL conducts criminal investigations only within its jurisdiction; otherwise the cases are referred to the appropriate state police force or to the federal criminal investigative agency, the Federal Criminal Police Office (Germany).

In general, the BPOL has a positive reputation among German citizens. It is perceived as a source of security and as a well-trained, professional organisation. The fact that the Bundespolizei does not perform normal police duties such as writing speeding tickets, might contribute to this perception. Its counter-terrorist unit, GSG 9, is well known. Political demonstrators who engaged in violent clashes with the police (state and federal police) during rallies in the past most likely have a different view, however.

[edit] Strength

The Bundespolizei consists of around 40,000 personnel,

30,000 are fully trained police officers.
- 21,000 provide border, railway and aviation security,
- 6,000 serve in the Operational Support Units
- 3,000 serve in special units such as the Central Office for Communications and Information, GSG 9 and Aviation,
10,000 salaried civilian (unarmed) personnel,
- 6,800 civil servants who perform administrative and support services
- 2,000 who serve in the Individual Service which handles border/immigration matters and flight passenger checks, similar to US Immigration inspectors.

[edit] Organization

The Bundespolizei headquarters is in Berlin. A special directorate in Koblenz (BPOL-Direktion) is responsible for the collection and analysis of intelligence, the development of doctrine, coordination of BPOL operations, and for international cooperation. The central school for advanced and vocational training is located in Lübeck and each BPOL region has its own basic training school.

5 Regional Commands
- North - Bad Bramstedt
- East - Berlin
- Central - Fuldatal
- South - Munich
- West - Sankt Augustin
128 Inspectorates including
- 82 Regional Inspectorates
- 19 Airport Inspectorates
- 18 Criminal Investigations Inspectorates
- 5 Protection Inspectorates
- 3 Water police Inspectorates with patrol craft and helicopters
- 1 Special Operations Inspectorate