Working conditions of the police - Ministry of Justice refers to construction projects for police after criticism
After criticism from the Police Union (GdP) about the state of many police stations in Brandenburg, the Ministry of the Interior referred to ongoing renovation projects. At the same time, it was noted that a faster implementation of construction measures would be desirable. However, the Ministry's influence on this is limited. The GdP had described the state of many police stations as dire, with construction projects progressing slowly.
Ministry of the Interior: 31 Projects in Planning and Implementation
The Ministry of the Interior stated that it is pursuing continuous renovations, maintenance, and new construction projects. "The Ministry of the Interior relies on cooperation with the Brandenburg State Office for Real Estate and Construction (BLB), which is responsible for all measures."
Currently, 31 police projects in Brandenburg are being managed together with the BLB, with planning and implementation at different stages. The estimated investment volume is several hundred million euros, according to the Ministry. In addition, 42 further measures have been submitted and are under review. The BLB, responsible for construction management, is part of the Ministry of Finance.
"Plaster is falling off the walls in offices, or mold remediation isn't happening," Anita Kirsten, the GdP's state chairwoman, recently criticized in the "Märkische Oderzeitung". "The conditions in many stations or at the State Criminal Office are dire. Practically nothing has happened. Some construction sites were started, then staff shortages at the responsible state agency hit, or other priorities were occupied."
Kirsten called for more investments, for example, in the conversion of police vehicles. "With the radio cars, we have the problem that due to budget constraints, cars were procured that are simply too small for our colleagues. With the full deployment kit, which includes all the equipment that needs to be on it, it's barely possible to fit in the seats." The deployment kit refers to the equipment of the police officers on a special belt.
Space in police vehicles can become tight
"The continuous expansion of the personal equipment (e.g., protective equipment, baton, taser) of the police officers, as well as the vehicles, can sometimes affect the space conditions in the vehicle," the Ministry of the Interior admitted in response to a written inquiry. This is taken into account in new acquisitions.
Given the criticism, also from the opposition Left faction in the state parliament, that savings are being made at the expense of police officers, the Ministry of the Interior cited increased investments. Between 2020 and 2024, 121.1 million euros were invested in the equipment and equipment of the police - far more than in the previous state government. In the previous government coalition, the Left provided the finance minister.
According to the Ministry of the Interior, 8,200 positions at the Brandenburg police were filled as of July 1 this year.
The Ministry of the Interior acknowledged the need for larger police vehicles due to Limited space, as criticized by Anita Kirsten. They acknowledged that the deployment kit and personal equipment, along with the vehicles themselves, can sometimes make space conditions in the vehicle tight.
During discussions about investments in the police force, the necessity of upgrading police vehicles was raised, with Anita Kirsten highlighting issues with the size of the radio cars, making it difficult for police officers to operate effectively with their full deployment kit.
