Overworked and Undermanned? The Federal Police Struggles to Cope with Border Control Overhaul
Law enforcement officials express concern over potential capacity exhaustion due to increased border checks.
Get the scoop here on the Federal Police's worry about handling their domestic duties due to a potential overwhelming focus on border control.
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As the Spiegel reports, the Federal Police is on edge about tackle both domestic tasks and tighten border control measures. A recent internal directive from the Potsdam presidency to the directorates flags the deployment of the majority of MKU forces - officers in the Mobile Control and Surveillance Units - to predominantly take place at the border.
Inside Scoop Dobrindt pushes 12-hour shifts, Federal Police gears up for stricter border controls
For "other deployment situations," the MKUs will be deployed only in "unavoidable cases," according to the magazine. Additionally, "planned executive measures" - such as raids involving Federal Police forces - are slated to go ahead this week. "For the execution of further executive measures, a new assessment of the deployment and force situation may be necessary," the presidency states.
The directive also indicates that the Federal Police will boost "the number of deployed forces to the maximum extent possible." The particularly hard-hit Federal Reserve Police is requested to ramp up its "personnel support services to a maximum." However, it is noted that this situation is "temporary." "The timely integration of further deployment forces into the deployment measures," including trainees from the Federal Police Academy in Lübeck, "is crucial for long-term sustainability."
On the Ground Visible to travelers, Germany boosts border controls in multiple states
In response to the shift to 12-hour shifts, the directorates are directed to implement "restrictive leave." The presidency anticipates potential issues with accommodating additional forces at the border: "The deployment and use of deployment forces will take place only when the necessary logistical infrastructure, particularly accommodation capacities, are available," the presidency states, as per the Spiegel. It might be necessary to implement deployment variants where Federal Police officers return home after their shift and return the next day.
Context Clues
The Federal Police in Germany are grappling with the strain of intensified border controls due to tougher migration policies instigated by Interior Minister Alexander Dobrindt. As part of the new measures, the police will deploy an additional 2,000 to 3,000 personnel, raising the total to roughly 13,000 to 14,000 officers, who will be stationed along Germany's approximately 4,000-kilometer external border[1][5]. These additional resources will most likely divert attention and affect the focus on handling domestic tasks like maintaining law and order, crime investigation, and public safety. However, specifics on how these adjustments are being made or their impact on overall police performance remain unknown.
Worth Noting
- The additional personnel and resources assigned to border control operations may result in an increased workload and operational challenges for the police.
- Strict border control measures could lead to adjustments in staffing for other domestic duties, potentially causing a redistribution of resources within the police force.
- Ensuring that heightened border security does not compromise critical policing functions, such as crime prevention and response, is a significant concern.
- The Federal Police's community policy and employment policy might face strain due to the deployment of a majority of officers to the borders, as stated in the Potsdam presidency's internal directive.
- The employment policy within the Federal Police may encounter unavoidable changes, with MKUs officers being deployed only in necessary "other deployment situations."
- In light of the tougher migration policies and increased border control measures, the general-news and crime-and-justice sectors may observe potential implications on the Federal Police's capacity to fulfill their domestic duties.
- The Finance and Business sectors should be aware of potential challenges faced by the Federal Police, given the transition to 12-hour shifts and the possible need for officers to return home after their shift and resume duty the next day.
- Amidst the migration crisis, global news outlets such as general-news, politics, and even local news (like Facebook, Twitter, Whatsapp, and E-Mail) should cover the Federal Police's efforts to cope with the stricter border control measures, especially considering the impact on the police's overall performance.
