Policing in Germany

From Wikipedia, the free encyclopedia

Germany is a federal republic of sixteen states. Each of those states has its own police force (Landespolizei). Each is subordinate to the Minister (or, in Bremen, Hamburg and Berlin, the Senator) of Internal Affairs of the state.

Although uniforms and vehicle colour schemes are similar all over Germany, the police forces are structured slightly differently in each state. For example, the Kriminalpolizei (detective branch, often shortened to Kripo) are part of the ordinary police force in some states and separate organizations in others. Another branch of the police in each state is the "Wasserschutzpolizei", traditionally in Navy-like uniforms. They are responsible for river and lake patrols and act as Transport Police for river transport, habours and may perform other duties like enforcing enviromental laws.

In addition, the Federal Government has a Police, called the Bundespolizei (Federal Police). Until 2005 it was called Bundesgrenzschutz (Federal Border Protection), but after its responsibilities were expanded in the 1990s and border controls in the European Union were abolished, its name was changed. The Bundespolizei today is mainly operational at train stations, airports and in areas close to the border.

The German Federal Railways also had its own police force, the Bahnpolizei, similar in role to the UK's British Transport Police. When the railways were privatised in the 1990s, the Bahnpolizei was assimilated into the Bundesgrenzschutz (now Bundespolizei), since executive power in Germany is only permitted by law to be under government control. Private police forces are therefore not allowed in Germany.

The idea of using the same colour for police uniforms and vehicles throughout the European Union, has resulted in German police forces slowly changing vehicle liveries from white/green to silver/blue. The uniforms have also changed in some states from the green/beige version introduced in 1979 to blue. Hamburg was the first state to make the transition. In most states, newly acquired vehicles and helicopters get the new color scheme.

Before German reunification on 3 October 1990, the German Democratic Republic was policed by the Volkspolizei.