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Shocking conditions in police stations: GdP demands billions in aid!
Hagen Husgen criticizes ailing police stations in Germany and calls for improvements to internal security and working conditions.
Shocking conditions in police stations: GdP demands billions in aid!
What's going on in the German police system? An alarming report by Hagen Husgen, the federal executive of the police union (GdP), shows the worrying conditions that exist in many police stations. Mold and vermin, defective service vehicles and dilapidated buildings characterize the image of police departments in Germany, which Husgen describes as “embarrassing” and “shameful”. These conditions not only cause problems for officers, but also have a direct impact on public safety. Mercury reports that the union boss is bluntly putting his finger in the wound and has called for an urgently needed “billion-dollar injection” from the federal government.
Husgen lists three main demands to improve the situation: First, there should be a political will to build a sufficiently large and modern police force. A significant increase in investments in internal security is then necessary. And finally, he calls for more powers for police investigations. “The current conditions make many police officers dissatisfied,” says Husgen, who also points to an investment backlog in the double-digit billion range - including two billion euros just in Berlin and one billion in Saxony. The time adds that the conditions in many departments are described as hazardous to health, with decades-old toilets, broken heaters and holes in the roofs.
Conditions and problems with young talent
The list of grievances in German police headquarters is long: mold, vermin, and defective service vehicles – the police are facing serious challenges. As Husgen points out, this contributes to the youth problems. Young people are put off by poor working conditions and the federal government's lack of investment in the police is perceived as inadequate. The condition of the company vehicles is no less dramatic; many are in such poor condition that they are considered shameful. Vehicles with torn seats and mileage of over half a million are not uncommon. The GdP is therefore calling for more support from the states and a restructuring of the digital infrastructure, which is currently stuck in federalism.
The problem is also shaped by the increased discussion about police violence, which came into focus after the George Floyd case in the USA. A study by the Goethe University Frankfurt shows that police violence is often associated with poor working conditions, stress and inadequate communication. The crux of the matter is that violence also occurs in operations outside of major events, such as conflict situations or identity checks. Police authorities must urgently take measures to raise awareness and better train their officers in order to combat discriminatory behavior within their own ranks. For real reform, it is essential to improve communication channels and create a transparent environment in which civil servants can carry out their tasks adequately.
The view
In summary, it is clear that the police union is emphatically pointing out the catastrophic working conditions and calling for fundamental reforms. “We need a good handle on the inner values of the police,” concludes Husgen and gets to the point: It’s not just about modernizing the screens in the stations, but above all about supporting the people behind the uniforms. This is the only way the police can fulfill their important task and regain the trust of the population. Time is of the essence because the problems are growing and with them the pressure on the responsible politicians to finally act.