Criminality - Police union demands more protection against stabbings
At Stuttgart Hauptbahnhof, a man stabs two people waiting with a knife and seriously injures them. In Mannheim, a police officer is killed in a knife attack: Due to the statistics, knife attacks are becoming increasingly common in Baden-Württemberg. The German Police Union demands consequences. In a position paper obtained by the German Press Agency, the union lists measures. Previously, SWR reported on the demands.
The development of crimes involving knives is alarming, according to the position paper. In the past year, the number of knife attacks in the Southwest increased by 13.8 percent compared to the previous year to 3104 cases, it was stated. Knife attacks must be taken just as seriously as attacks with firearms, the union demands.
The union is demanding improvements in weapons law. Spring knives should generally be banned. In addition, age restrictions for the purchase and possession of knives should be examined, as well as a registration requirement for the purchase of certain knives.
Police officers should also be allowed to conduct checks more easily, and they should be better protected with cut-resistant vests and cut-resistant textiles. To protect others from knife attackers, the union proposes the introduction of stun guns. These have so far only been used in the Southwest by special units. "The creation of a 'weapon' between the baton and the firearm is urgently necessary," it says in the paper.
The knife attack at Stuttgart Main Station, similar to the one in Mannheim, highlights the rising issue of Criminality in Baden-Württemberg. The German Police Union, based in Stuttgart, has expressed concern about this trend. The Union, in their position paper obtained by the German Press Agency, pointed out an alarming increase in knife attacks, especially in the Southwest, by 13.8%.
In response, the union proposed stricter weapons laws, suggesting a ban on spring knives and comprehensive age restrictions for knife purchasing and possession. They also proposed a registration requirement for certain types of knives. Furthermore, they advocated for easier check permission for police officers and better protection equipment like cut-resistant vests and textiles.
The union also proposed the introduction of stun guns for police use, arguing that they could serve as a 'weapon' between a baton and a firearm, providing a less lethal alternative in certain situations. These suggestions have been previously discussed in regional news outlets like SWR. The union believes that these measures will help address the issue of knife attacks and contribute to the overall improvement of Inner Security.
