Saxony has its own border police force under review

Internal security - Saxony has its own border police force under review

Due to the continuing high number of illegal entries, Saxony is examining the conditions for setting up its own border police modeled after Bavaria. Minister-President Michael Kretschmer (CDU) set up an independent working group for this purpose. The group will conduct an investigation in the coming weeks, taking into account the experiences in Bavaria and further expertise, and make a proposal by September.

"The number of illegal entries into Saxony remains too high," said Kretschmer during a visit to the Police Directorate Görlitz. "We can't constantly wait for the federal government to act, but we must make our own contribution." The political goal is "to bring more security, more personnel to the border regions," and to make the necessary resources available.

The working group will determine what extent of personnel, equipment, and construction measures are necessary to further intensify action against border criminality and illegal migration. This will then be discussed with the police leadership and unions, and the next state parliament, said Kretschmer. Financing will be possible with the double budget 2025/2026.

Kretschmer emphasized to the unions that it is about additional personnel and not about pulling forces from other districts or departments. "Internal security and public order have high priority." Migration is the topic "that concerns the people in Germany the most," it is at the top of the duty list.

Saxony can build on existing structures in the border regions

Interior Minister Armin Schuster (CDU) referred to already established structures and competencies in the border regions. This includes joint search and investigation teams of authorities in neighboring countries and search and competence centers of state and federal police (FKZ). He spoke of a "prototype" that is effective but "minimally invasive." The working group will investigate how it can be expanded. It needs "a clear understanding of the size and dimensions of the additional required resources."

The pressure of migration is high, said Schuster. During the current border controls during the European Football Championship, one could see "what's going on at the borders." The Federal Police will remain at the security deployment due to migration, "but not in this strength," he explained. "And the people in the Saxon border regions notice this."

In the Free State, there are four FKZ for Eastern and Central Saxony, the Ore Mountains, and the region Saxon Switzerland-Ore Mountains. This is intended to increase the pressure on traveling criminals and increase security. Employees of state and federal police collect and evaluate information and organize operations - focus areas are controls on highways 4 (Chemnitz-Eisenach) and 72 (Chemnitz-Hof), on federal roads, and at the border with Poland and the Czech Republic.

1. Minister-President Michael Kretschmer of Saxony, representing the CDU, is collaborating with Bavaria's border police model to combat the high number of illegal entries in Saxony.
2. The federal government, led by Armin Schuster (CDU), the Interior Minister of Germany, has existing structures and competencies in the border regions that can potentially aid Saxony.
3. Kretschmer emphasized the need for additional personnel in Saxony, specifically in border regions, for improving internal security and public order, a priority due to the concern over migration.
4. Schuster highlighted the pressure of migration at the borders, mentioning the limited presence of the Federal Police during the European Football Championship, which affected the safety of the Saxon border regions.
5. The independent working group, established by Kretschmer, will investigate the expansion of already existing structures, such as joint search and investigation teams, in Saxony to enhance security against border criminality and illegal migration.
6. The Federal Police will continue to support security deployments due to migration but not with the same strength as before, according to Schuster, calling attention to the noticeable impact on the Saxon border regions.
7. The state of Saxony currently has four FKZ located in Eastern and Central Saxony, the Ore Mountains, and the region Saxon Switzerland-Ore Mountains, which help increase pressure on traveling criminals and secure highways and border checkpoints.

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