Global influences on internal security

(BS) Internal security in Germany has long since ceased to depend on parameters within the country. Wars and crises such as those in Ukraine and the Middle East, increasing migration pressure and the growing threat of Islamist terrorism are influencing factors of great importance. The German security authorities must take these key influencing factors into…

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Is Europe overwhelmed by migration?

(BS) Die europäische Dimension in der Migrationsfrage ist von erheblicher Bedeutung für das Gelingen nationaler Migrations- und Integrationspolitik der einzelnen Mitgliedsstaaten. Dr. Michael Spindelegger, Generaldirektor des Internationalen Zentrums für die Entwicklung von Migrationspolitik, skizzierte in seiner Key Note zu einer Diskussionsrunde zur europäischen Migrationspolitik auf dem 27. Europäischen Polizeikongress die aktuelle Lage. Die steigenden Zahlen…

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Safe line-up – European Championship matches in times of global crises

(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…

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Frontex head Hans Leitjens on the current problems of migration

(BS) Migration has become one of the greatest challenges of the 21st century for mainland Europe. Hans Leitjens, Executive Director of Frontex, reported on the current figures and challenges regarding migration flows towards Europe at the 27th Police Congress. According to him, the main flow is still across the Mediterranean. The boats used for the…

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High-tech solutions for the police of tomorrow

(BS) The increasing internationalisation of cybercrime, drug and human trafficking, financial fraud and other threat scenarios can only be successfully countered by global law enforcement authorities through organisational, legal and technical cooperation at the highest level.  Police chiefs, task forces, researchers and industry representatives from all over the world agreed on this when they discussed global…

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INTERPOL warns against crime in the metaverse

INTERPOL is fighting crime in the virtual space. A current white paper warns of a new quality of so-called “metacrime”. Solving such crimes will only work with a holistic approach. It sounds like science fiction, but it has long since become reality: metacrime, crime in the virtual space of the metaverse. At the World Economic…

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Ceferin concerned about security at Euro 2024

“Die Welt zu Gast bei Freunden” (The world as a guest with friends) was the official slogan of the 2006 Football World Cup in Germany. And indeed, riots by fans were among the exceptions. It remained calm in the stadiums and the most memorable images were of fans celebrating peacefully in the public screening areas.…

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Overall surveillance bill commissioned

Nobody can say for sure how high the total surveillance burden on citizens is. The planned overall surveillance bill aims to change this. In 2020, the Liberals had already proposed a motion to initiate an “overall surveillance bill instead of further restrictions on civil rights”. In the coalition agreement, the coalition government then stated that…

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Investigation commission Lützerath presents final balance sheet

(BS) On the afternoon of 15 January 2023, the police reported the evacuation of the Rhenish lignite village of Lützerath. In the course of the eviction, the police forces were attacked, sometimes on a massive scale, by the demonstrators. Following the escalation of the operation, there were numerous injuries on both sides. The Lützerath investigation…

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Göttingen police and public prosecutor’s office against cybertrading

(BS) Cybertrading is a scam. The criminals offer shares, foreign exchange or cryptocurrencies for sale on the internet. The catch: the assets do not exist. Together with European partners, the Göttingen police and public prosecutor’s office have taken action against fraudsters. The specialised cybercrime unit of the Central Criminal Investigation Department of the Göttingen Police…

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Kingdom Market shut down

The Federal Criminal Police Office (BKA) and the Central Office for Combating Cybercrime (ZIT) have succeeded in striking a decisive blow against the darknet marketplace “Kingdom Market”. In an internationally coordinated operation, its server infrastructure, which was distributed across several countries, was seized and the illegal provider was taken offline. The platform was mainly used…

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International police missions in jeopardy

Due to the current geopolitical situation, the German government is not in a position to say with certainty whether participation in international police missions can be maintained to the same extent in the future.In a briefing shortly before Christmas, it announced that due to the current situation in the UN Security Council, the establishment of…

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European Port Alliance against Mafia and Co.

Together with Germany and other countries the Belgian EU Council Presidency has foundedthe European Port Alliance in Antwerp. It brings together public and private players to combat organised crime and drug trafficking. The aim is to increase the security of ports and other logistics hubs. Organised crime mainly operates at a transnational level. Rarely offences…

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Herrmann rates migration as the number one issue

In his analysis of the upcoming challenges for 2024, Bavaria’s Interior Minister Joachim Herrmann (CSU) described immigration as the key issue. Referring to the 60 percent increase in asylum applications in Germany compared to the previous year, he warned: “The number of arrivals has recently decreased, but that is no reason to sound the all-clear.”…

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Federal Police Act: New powers for the Federal Police

The Federal Cabinet’s approval of the restructuring of the Federal Police Act is a response to current threats and expands the powers of the Federal Police. The first reform of the Federal Police Act in almost thirty years gives the Federal Police new powers in telecommunications surveillance, for the use of its own drones and…

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Tough approach

At its last meeting in Berlin at the end of 2023, the Standing Conference of Interior Ministers and Senators of the Federal States (IMK) addressed the impact of international events and crises on internal security in Germany. Thanks to Germany’s police forces The IMK thanked the police forces in Germany above all for their tireless…

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Only a few incidents in Saxony

Saxony’s Interior Minister Armin Schuster (CDU) recently presented the sixth situation report of the Coordination Office for the Prevention of and Fight against Extremism (KostEx) to the state cabinet. According to the report, in the period from 1 January to 30 June 2023, seven cases concerning eight persons with an extremist connection became known in…

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Right to a re-examination

In North Rhine-Westphalia, the Aachen Administrative Court has ruled in summary proceedings that the application of an interested person for training in the police civil service must at least be re-examined (case reference: 1 L 832/23). This is because the Land’s assessment that a specific tattoo on the applicant’s forearm – showing a handshake with…

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Permanent no-weapons zone at Hamburg Central Station

A permanent no-weapons zone now exists at Hamburg Central Station. With this, the Senate is implementing another element of its package of measures for more security there. In future, the weapons ban will apply in the main railway station, including all public railway facilities as well as the underground connections. In addition to firearms and…

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Memorandum of Understanding signed with Kyrgyzstan

The Federal Government has signed a Memorandum of Understanding in Berlin to establish comprehensive migration cooperation with Kyrgyzstan. The agreement was signed on behalf of the Federal Government by Dr Joachim Stamp, Special Representative for Migration Agreements, and on behalf of Kyrgyzstan by Foreign Minister Dscheenbek Kulubajew. In view of Germany’s need for skilled labour,…

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Confidential lawyer for the Stuttgart Ministry of the Interior

The Baden-Württemberg Ministry of the Interior is getting an ombudsperson for questions of sexual harassment in the workplace. The new counselling service is aimed at all employees of the general interior administration. This includes, for example, the Ministry of the Interior, the four regional councils, the state’s IT service provider BITBW, the cyber security agency…

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Emergency doctors for the SEK Baden-Württemberg

In future, specialised doctors will accompany particularly dangerous missions of the Special Operations Command (SEK) in Baden-Württemberg. So far, this is unique in Germany. Among other things, they will accompany operations against armed or particularly dangerous perpetrators as well as against members of organised crime (OC) or serious criminals. The same applies to suspected terrorists…

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NRW programme now also in Sweden

The programme of the state police called “Kurve kriegen” (Getting the Curve), which is already established in North Rhine-Westphalia, has now also started in Sweden. There it runs under the title “Rätt Kurva” (German: “right turn”) in the cities of Södertälje, Linköping and Göteborg. The Swedish police are thus adopting the crime prevention programme in…

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New management strategy presented

North Rhine-Westphalia’s Minister of the Interior, Herbert Reul (CDU), together with the Inspector of the State Police, Michael Schemke, presented the new leadership strategy of the North Rhine-Westphalia Police. Within the framework of a state working group, the Ministry of the Interior, together with the police authorities and scientific support, has fundamentally revised the leadership…

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Report on Captagon trafficking

The Federal Criminal Police Office (BKA) and the European Monitoring Centre for Drugs and Drug Addiction (EMCDDA) have jointly published the report “Captagon Trafficking and the Role of Europe”. It showed that European states in particular serve as transshipment points for the drug. This is mainly done via sea container transports. The production as well…

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Police agreement between Austria and Iraq

Representatives of Austria and Iraq have signed a Memorandum of Understanding on intensified cooperation in police matters. Cooperation is to be intensified in particular in the areas of counter-terrorism, action against organised crime (OC) and actions against illegal migration. The same applies to the fight against theft, smuggling, economic and financial crimes, corruption and money…

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Record incidents with a smartphone

In future, Brandenburg police forces will be able to record cases initially using their smartphones. The basis for this are two apps that offer mobile case processing as well as information and research options. They can be used to locate scenes of operations and crime scenes as well as traffic accidents, to record the facts…

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New PMK record in Baden-Württemberg

Last year, about 6,2000 politically motivated offences were reported to the police in Baden-Württemberg, including about 380 against public officials and elected representatives. A year earlier, there were about 400 fewer offences. These alarming figures were given by the State Minister of the Interior, Thomas Strobl (CDU), at the Stuttgart Police Day organised by the…

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No comprehensive situation report

So far, there is no comprehensive situation report on physical or psychological violence against public service employees in Germany. However, Franziska Müller, head of the “Geschäftsstelle Gemeinsame Zentralstelle Kommunale Kriminalprävention” (office of the Joint Central Office for Local Crime Prevention), believes that this would be absolutely desirable. On the one hand, it is no longer…

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Significantly fewer corruption offences

The number of corruption offences in Germany clearly decreased last year. Compared to the previous year, it fell by almost 52 percent to 3,600 offences. The number of suspects also decreased significantly. It decreased by 46.8 percent to 1,306. Among the suspects were 730 givers and 576 takers, 51 per cent of whom were public…

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Over 200 billion euros in damage annually

206 billion euros in damage is caused to the German economy annually by theft of IT equipment and data as well as digital and analogue industrial espionage and sabotage. This means that the damage exceeds the 200 billion euro mark for the third time in a row (2022: 203 billion euros, 2021: 223 billion euros).…

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Polizei Baden-Württemberg

Innovation Lab for Baden-Württemberg’s police

The Innovation Lab of the Baden-Württemberg police was opened in Kehl. Among those present were Interior Minister Thomas Strobl (CDU) and State Police President Dr. Stefanie Hinz. The short form of the facility is iLab. “The central goal of the iLab is to make innovative technologies available to our police officers more quickly. In future,…

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Bodycams for Saxony-Anhalt Police

Police officers in Saxony-Anhalt will also be equipped with body cameras in the future. The first forces to be equipped are those of the Stendal police station and the police college in Aschersleben. The other stations are to follow successively. Video management software is also being introduced. With it, digital evidence can be managed. This…

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Fewer victims, but more accidents in Bavaria

In the first six months of this year, there were slightly more road accidents on Bavaria’s roads than in the same period last year. At the same time, there were fewer deaths and injuries. From January to June, 183,247 road accidents occurred, an increase of 2.4 percent compared to the same period last year. In…

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Thorben Wengert_pixelio.de

Reform in two steps

The General Security and Public Order Act in Berlin is in need of reform. This has been the political consensus for years. Now a reform is on the agenda. This is to be done in two parts. The so-called small package is to be launched as early as September. Among other things, it will regulate…

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Blogtrepreneur,

Almost 137,000 cyber crime cases

Last year, police authorities in this country recorded 136,865 cases of cyber crime. Although this is 6.5 percent less than in 2021, it is still too early to sound the all-clear. Only the domestic crimes recorded in the police crime statistics (PKS) decreased. At the same time, the number of so-called foreign crimes increased significantly…

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Trenkel

More and more departures from Austria

In the first six months of this year, more asylum seekers left Austria than new requests were filed. Thus, there were about 22,990 asylum applications, but about 28,000 departures. The latter include fast-track procedures, deportations and voluntary departures. Interior Minister Gerhard Karner attributes the development to three measures in particular. These include consistent border controls,…

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Berlin situation report on clan crime

In Berlin, a new situation report on the situation in the area of clan crime has been published by the Senate’s internal administration and the police. According to the report, almost 900 crimes related to this form of criminality were committed last year. In addition, 303 suspects could be identified. This corresponds to 0.2 per…

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Interpol

India joins network

India’s Central Bureau of Investigation (CBI) Academy has taken a step towards improving international cooperation and strengthening law enforcement. It has become the tenth member to join the INTERPOL Global Academy Network. The move will help enhance regional and global policing capacity and promote cooperation between law enforcement agencies worldwide. Launched in 2019, the INTERPOL…

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Heartbeat detectors against smuggling

Seven heartbeat detectors are now in operation in Austria. They can be used to quickly check whether people are on the loading area of lorries. Until now, the vehicles had to be cleared out at great expense in case of suspicion. Six of the devices are used for border point and border area surveillance in…

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Peter Jülich

Faeser wants stricter rules

Federal Interior Minister Nancy Faeser (SPD) wants to make the regulations in connection with deportations much stricter. For example, persons who are subject to an enforceable obligation to leave the country may be detained longer in the future. This is provided for in a discussion draft of the Federal Ministry of the Interior (BMI). It…

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Cooperation agreement concluded

INTERPOL and UNICEF have signed a cooperation agreement to better combat child sexual abuse on the Internet. The corresponding agreement was recently signed by INTERPOL Secretary General Prof. Dr. Jürgen Stock and UNICEF Executive Director Catherine Russell. The aim is to provide even better support to national governments in combating and preventing child sexual abuse.…

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Number of security police case conferences has increased

In Austria, the number of security-police case conferences has been increased. In addition, the number of prevention officers has more than doubled from 500 to 1,200 persons since 2020. In the first quarter of 2023, the number of entry and approach bans was 3,844. In the area of violence in the private sphere, there were…

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Over 50,00 “silent SMS” sent

The Federal Criminal Police Office (BKA) sent 37,064 “silent text messages” in the first half of 2022. In the second six months, there were 14,886 that were technically recorded. This is revealed in the Federal Government’s answer to a minor question by the Left Party parliamentary group in the German Bundestag. According to this, the…

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Modern blasting system for defusing service

The Austrian police’s Entschärfungsdienst (ESD) can rely on a new blasting system. The device was recently put into operation and weighs four tonnes. Up to eight kilogrammes of TNT can be safely detonated in it. In addition, the blast suppression system enables the safe removal and storage of dangerous substances or explosives, for example in…

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Support for EU member states

Frontex, the European Border and Coast Guard Agency, supports EU member states and Schengen Associated Countries in the management of the EU’s external borders and the fight against cross border crime. Frontex is EU’s largest agency, with more than 1, 000 staff in the headquarters, 19 ongoing operations and more than 2,400 Standing Corps officers…

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A common border needs a common border security

Membership in the European Union (EU) is associated with many conveniences. However, being part of the EU also means taking responsibility for securing its external borders. The undertaking of “securing the EU’s external borders” turns out to be a complex, dynamic and sometimes controversial task. The EU states are committed to a common border. Consequently,…

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Europol operation against firearm trafficking

A joint Europol operation lead by Rumania and Bulgaria seized 1 621 weapons, 24 735 rounds of ammunition, and explosives. Investigators confiscated former signal weapons that had been modified to shoot live ammunition. As the supply of lethal weaponry is declining within European borders, criminals and criminal organizations resort to transforming alarm and signal weapons.…

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No more political civil servants in the future

In Lower Saxony, police chiefs should no longer be political officials in the future. This is the goal set by the new Minister of the Interior, Daniela Behrens (SPD). In the future, the heads of authorities are to be career civil servants. It would then no longer be possible to transfer them to temporary retirement…

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More investigative capabilities in cyber crime cases

In Austria, police are likely to be given more investigative options in cyber crime cases in the future. In addition, the penalties for hackers are to be increased. At least, that is the intention of a draft law that was recently submitted for review. According to the bill, hackers will be punished with up to…

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(BS/cocoparisienne,pixabay.com )

More jobs at the Saarland police force

The Saarland Ministry of the Interior hopes to relieve the pressure on its police staff by giving specialists and investigative assistants longtime contracts and hiring new ones. As of Jan. 1, 2023, Interior Minister Reinhold Jos (SPD) made eleven positions in the state police force permanent. In addition, nine permanent positions are currently advertised. The…

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Is about to become the new Federal Police Commissioner

Grötsch to become Federal Police Commissioner

Uli Grötsch (SPD), a member of the Bundestag, is to become the new Federal Police Commissioner. The creation of the position is agreed in the coalition agreement of the so-called “traffic light” government. However, the reform of the Federal Police Act is stalling. Nothing has yet been introduced in the German Bundestag. However, there is…

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Searches in the Schengen area

In the Schengen Information System (SIS), the security authorities of the Schengen countries share information on searches for persons and objects in the European Union (EU). Germany is responsible for about 15 percent of the enquiries. All 27 EU member states participate in the Schengen Information System (SIS II). In addition, Iceland, Norway, Liechtenstein and…

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Fit in uniform

Despite all the technical progress, physical activities are and will continue to be part of the police profession. It is therefore the people’s right to demand a certain level of physical fitness from their public servants in uniform. Consequently, regular exercise and a healthy diet should be a natural part of the lives of police…

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Baden-Württemberg: Annual balance sheet of the helicopter squadron

The police helicopter squadron of the state of Baden-Württemberg undertook more missions in 2022 than in the previous year. The number of flying hours also increased. Almost half of the missions took place at night. The aircraft took off for a total of 2,336 police missions in 2022 (2021: 2,190). The pilots flew a total…

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Combating tomorrow’s threats with foresight

The use of artificial intelligence (AI) and drones is becoming increasingly important for authorities and organizations with security tasks (BOS). This also applies to the police forces. How far the technology has already become clear at this year’s “World Police Summit 2023” in Dubai. At the invitation of the Dubai Police, security experts from 112…

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Thousands of deportations failed recently

According to the Federal Government, 12,945 people were deported from Germany last year. At the same time, a total of 22,408 deportations failed before they were handed over to the federal police. This was mostly the case because the deportation request was cancelled by the Länder or there was no transfer to the Federal Police.…

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Security of All in Europe

Freedom, security and justice. These core European values are inextricably linked and interdependent: no freedom without security and vice versa. An effective rule of law is also crucial for a united and strong Europe. That is why this year’s European Police Congress of Behörden Spiegel is dedicated to the topic “One Europe? Freedom – Security…

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Austria: Six million complaints

For the very first time in history, more than six million speeding offences were reported by the Austrian police. In addition, around 1.75 million alcohol tests were carried out. Once again, more drivers were found to be under the influence of drugs. Minister of the Interior Gerhard Karner explained: “Intensive education and training in the…

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Amok run in Hamburg

Seven people and the suspected perpetrator were killed in a rampage in Hamburg. He is said to have directed himself. Another eight people were injured, four of them seriously. Among the dead is an unborn child aged seven months who was hit in the womb. The mother survived. The crime took place during a church…

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Significantly more apprehensions by Bavarian border police

The forces of the Bavarian Border Police had to deal with more than 56,000 cases last year. This represents an increase of 5.5 percentage points compared to 2021 and a record number since the agency was established. Significantly more unauthorised entries and narcotics offences were detected. In addition, there were more search hits and finds…

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Digital Service Card for Schleswig-Holstein Police

The employees of the Schleswig-Holstein police are to receive a digital service ID card. It is to be uniform and forgery-proof. This was announced by Minister of the Interior Dr. Sabine Sütterlin-Waack (CDU) in the state parliament in Kiel. The new police service cards will contain a radio chip and thus offer the possibility of…

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New image film of the Thuringian police

The Thuringian police force is recruiting new recruits with a new image film. It has now been presented to schoolchildren. The video bears the slogan “We’ll do it safely”. “With this campaign, we are targeting schoolchildren in order to arouse their interest,” explained Minister of the Interior Georg Maier (SPD). Many do not know how…

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More traffic accidents in Saxony

In Saxony, the number of road accidents in 2022 increased by 2.7 percent compared to the previous year. More than 97,000 accidents were recorded. The number of people involved in accidents also increased. Here the increase was 16.1 percent. Accordingly, 16,386 people were injured in traffic accidents in the Free State last year. This figure…

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New bodycams in Rhineland-Palatinate

The police of Rhineland-Palatinate have new body cameras. The 382 second-generation devices were delivered to the Police Headquarters Operations, Logistics and Technology, which is responsible for procurements. 48 more bodycams are on order. This means that the number of police body cameras has increased significantly, explained the Minister of Interior Michael Ebling (SPD). In the…

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