Although the police force, as a representative of the state, plays an essential role in the modern state and democracy, the institution itself is rarely critically examined. Public opinion of the police force mostly fluctuates between two extremes: A large percentage of the population consider the police force to be infallible and see them as “friends and helpers” reducing any critical remarks to special occurances and deficiencies within the German police force. These people also see criticisms against the German police force as attacks on law and order in general (and even see such criticisms as supporting criminals and terrorists). On the other hand, in the eyes of many people (and especially among young people), the police force are losing their status as representatives of the state and increasingly those in authority, along with police officers, are perceived across the board as being “pigs”. Well-founded knowledge of the police force and an objective debate on this subject does not normally take place.
The general duty of the police force is to guarantee and maintain law and order. The police force, as a representative of the state, should enforce the law in order to ensure that people are able to live together on the basis of the governing rules and regulations.
Due to the different laws in each federal state (Bundesland), there are differences in the organisation and powers of the police force from state to state and each police force is accountable to the individual senator of their state. The federal states are respectful of the differences in the organisation and individual rights between the states through the different police laws. These differences in laws are only, however, a matter of detail.
Although the Allies want to prevent a central police force from forming as a reaction to the experience of National Socialism a central police force, which is supported by the German confederation, is increasingly developing. The federal Border Guard is therefore being reformed as a uniformed federal police force. This restricts the sovereign rights of the police force in each separate federal state because they no long have sole authority. It also limits the work they can do because police officers are then needed at train stations (and also on public transport) where Border Guards previously worked and they are also being increasingly deployed at large events, for example, demonstrations. The federal criminal office is increasingly developing a connection between officers on the beat and a central police authority with wider reaching authoritative powers.
Police officers who come into direct contact with citizens are especially interested in the issue of police violation of justice (that is when people are beaten, kicked and insulted by police officers). Above all this concerns police officers on the beat who are responsible for risk prevention and removal when on patrol duty. The police radio patrol are especially important here: whether it is a traffic accident, brawl or burglary, the police radio patrol are always the first on the scene.
Demonstrations and other large events (for example football matches) represent a specific challenge for the police force. The riot police are particularly responsible for these events and are ready to cope with the changes to this so-called situation of the police force. In contrast to the everyday work of the police force there can also be a demand for police officers from other German states to work at these big events.
In general the work of a police officer is strictly under the direction of the head supervisor who also finds himself within a hierarchy with numerous members of those who give commands and those who receive commands. This illustrates the fact that the structure of the police force is according to a military model. Despite recommendations to introduce a cooperative style of leadership which promotes an independent way of thinking and also encourages police officers to view themselves and their work in a critical way, this has not been introduced yet.
In contrast to the large hierarchical dependency within the police force, outside of the police force police officers enjoy relative freedom compared to citizens. On the one hand this results from the lack of individual means of recognition of police officers, for example a lack of service number or name badge where the citizen is frequently faced with anonymous, uniformed police officers; On the other hand police officers are less likely to face convictions for violation because of the close relationship of the police force to public prosecutors and judges. It is also complicated to carryout convictions and sanctioning for the violation of justice because supervision procedures in the police force are either non-existent or inadequate. (more on this theme in the article: Police Violation in a Law Free Area)
© Anti-Diskriminierungsbüro (ADB) Berlin e.V.
Ausstellung: „Vom Polizeigriff zum Übergriff”
www.polizeigriff.de