Berlin police stretched thin by increased protection duties amid crime wave

Berlin police are stretched to their limit, facing significant personnel shortages exacerbated by a surge in protection assignments for individuals targeted by organized crime. The police union (GdP) estimates that between 400 and 500 officers are diverted daily from their core duties to provide security for "business people" who may be under threat of extortion.

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400 to 500 police officers daily cannot perform their actual duties due to short-term protection assignments in the area of property protection.

Stephan Weh, the GdP's state chairman, criticized the current situation, suggesting that those requiring protection should initially arrange private security services before the state intervenes. He noted that the police themselves utilize private security for their buildings and that such services are also employed for Bundeswehr properties. However, Weh stressed that police protection is essential when concrete threats to individuals are identified.

In response to a notable increase in firearms-related crime, Berlin's police have established a special unit named "Ferrum" (Latin for "iron"), while the public prosecutor's office has created a corresponding investigative group called "Telum" (Latin for "weapon"). These units are focusing on criminal gangs, particularly those allegedly led from Turkey, which are accused of threatening shop owners of Turkish and Kurdish descent in Berlin and other cities to extort large sums of money.

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The police protect 'business people' instead, who are sometimes known to the police multiple times and may now be targeted by extortionists.

Authorities have reported seizing 52 firearms and over 800 rounds of ammunition in connection with these investigations, leading to arrest warrants in 54 cases. Over 6,000 individuals, nearly 3,300 vehicles, and more than 860 establishments have been checked. The police are also facing increased demands for property protection, partly due to the geopolitical climate following the 2023 attack on Israel and the escalation in the Middle East, leading to more buildings requiring surveillance. The GdP has advocated for increased use of AI-powered video surveillance for property protection.

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The federal government must live up to its responsibility in the capital more.