Law enforcement in Germany

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Law enforcement in Germany is divided between the different levels of federalism: the federal level (Bund) and the state level (Länder) and formerly the local level (Kommunen).

Contents 1 Federal police agencies 1.1 Federal Investigation Bureau 1.2 Federal Police 1.2.1 GSG 9 2 State police 3 Local police 4 The public prosectutor's office 5 Violations of human rights 6 See also 7 References

[edit] Federal police agencies

There are two federal police agencies in Germany: The Federal Investigation Bureau and the Federal Police.

[edit] Federal Investigation Bureau

The Federal Investigation Bureau is Germany's national investigative agency and coordinates law enforcement in cooperation with criminal investigation bureaux of the individual states of Germany (these state investigation bureaux are known as Landeskriminalamt) and to conduct investigations in serious crimes, especially when other countries are involved.

[edit] Federal Police

In May 2005, the Bundesgrenzschutz (German Federal Border Guard) was renamed Bundespolizei (Federal Police) to reflect new responsibilities for domestic security that combine law enforcement and intelligence. The organization not only is responsible for protecting the country's rail system, airports and the borders but also participates in United Nations peacekeeping missions and supports intelligence-gathering activities.

[edit] GSG 9

GSG 9 is a special federal police unit that was created to combat hostage incidents, assassinations and organized crime. Former German Foreign Minister Hans-Dietrich Genscher established the unit after the terrorist attack on Israeli athletes at the 1972 Summer Olympics in Munich.

[edit] State police

The German states are responsible for managing the bulk of Germany's police forces. Each state has its own police force which is known as the Landespolizei (State Police).

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.

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.

[edit] Local police

After 1945, there were many local and city police forces, such as the Munich Police Force, which were merged with the Landespolizei forces during the major reorganisation of the German police in the mid-seventies.

These days, many cities in Germany also have a public order force (Kommunaler or Städtischer Ordnungsdienst) that performs many minor police-type functions. These city employees wear uniforms but are not armed, and are the municipal administration’s eyes and ears on the street. For example, they investigate illegal trash dumping, damage to property, graffiti, and prevent actions that would lower the citizens’ sense of security such as excessive public consumption of alcohol, public use of drugs, vandalism etc.

[edit] The public prosectutor's office

The Staatsanwaltschaft (public prosecutor’s office) is responsible for reviewing police investigations and handling criminal prosecutions.

[edit] Violations of human rights

Despite isolated reports of abuses of police detainees, Germany’s police generally respect individual human rights. For further information, see: Human rights in Germany

[edit] See also

Prisons in Germany

[edit] References

• This article contains material from the Library of Congress Country Studies, which are United States government publications in the public domain.