(BS) In the summer of 2006, ‘the world was a guest at a friend’s house’ and the most memorable images were of fans celebrating peacefully in the public viewing areas. This was also thanks to the numerous preventative measures taken by the various security authorities to curb hooliganism and defend against terrorism.
In the run-up to UEFA EURO 2024, the security situation has become anything but easier. The terrorist attack at Crocus City Hall and the flare-up of conflicts in the Middle East have forced the relevant security authorities to be extremely vigilant. Rhineland-Palatinate’s Interior Minister Michael Ebling, for example, spoke of possible ‘erratic attacks’ by Russia on hybrid targets.
Dirk Hulverscheidt, head of the police project group for the development of the police framework concept for UEFA EURO 2024, emphasised the importance of the International Police Cooperation Centre (IPCC) in Neuss for the evaluation of information and the coordination of the emergency services. The state of NRW was commissioned to set up and operate the information hub by the IMK. This decision was an obvious one, as the state is already home to the International Information Centre for Sports Operations. The IPCC helps the authorities in charge of operations to create a standardised nationwide picture of the situation and to establish uniform structures throughout Germany. Hulverscheidt emphasised that the IPCC does not replace the established structures. Rather, these would remain in place for the exchange of information on terrorism.
Hulverscheidt emphasised that the officers deployed should meet people in an open and friendly manner, but should intervene consistently in the event of violent confrontations. Thuringia’s Interior Minister Georg Maier, whose state is hosting the England team, is aware of the problem. ‘The England fans are definitely experience-orientated – but we can get a grip on that too,’ he said optimistically. In any case, the police authorities at the ten venues have a lot of experience from everyday league life. Nevertheless, Hulverscheidt warns that the short journeys and highly attractive city centres provide opportunities for the disruptive scene. This has developed further after the years of restrictions. We do not yet know how they will behave. The international exchange of information must succeed here. Germany’s external borders will be subject to stricter controls during the tournament anyway.
High personnel costs
A total of 350 employees at the IPCC will also be responsible for this. It will organise the stay and deployment of all police delegations from all participating nations. These will be subordinated to the local operational authorities for support. Each participating nation will also have a liaison officer on site and each European Championship group will be assigned a German coordination officer. A total of 700 IPCC employees are travelling throughout Germany. The state police forces, the federal police and the BKA also support the IPCC. Brandenburg’s Interior Minister Michael Stübgen believes that the venues are very well secured. The threat is more for medium-sized and large public viewing events. This means a lot of overtime for police officers. According to Hulverscheidt, the personnel requirements are so great that a holiday ban has been imposed in NRW in order to be able to set up as best as possible. Other states and the federal police have comparable regulations.
UEFA security concept
The Head of Security and Medicine at UEFA EURO 2024, Timo Seibert, distinguishes between the General Security Concept and the Stadium Security Concept. With the latter, the special features of the very different ten venues had to be taken into account. For all stadiums, the concept of a guest area familiar from league operations had to be discarded, as both teams are considered to have equal rights during the European Championship. Fences were rebuilt and the deployment of security personnel was adapted.
The stadium operators’ security service providers were commissioned, as they are familiar with the local structures. ‘They have local knowledge and know the stadium’. It is expected that 800 to 1,300 stewards will be deployed per matchday. 500 to 700 managers have undergone an additional DFB qualification module, ‘which we have expanded with EURO-specific modules.’ In total, the private sector is investing ‘almost 40 million euros in security and medical care.’
Next year’s European Police Congress will take place from 20 to 21 May. Click here to register.
