Version 7.6

Februar 2009

Freiwilliger Polizeidienst Berlin

Deutschland - Germany

Voluntary Policing in Germany

Germany is a federal republic, where every state is responsible for it’s own police force. Although most states have police laws that equal each other, there are some differences. One of the differences concern voluntary policing. For many years, Berlin and Baden-Württemberg were the only states to provide a voluntary police service. In Bayern (Bavaria) a “Security watch” program was introduced, were concerned citizens were trained by the police to patrol and watch local places, railway stations etc. They are equipped with a pepper-spray for self defence and a police radio to report any incidents and call for assistance if needed. They are not uniformed and have no powers of arrest, but may take up personal information (name, address etc.). Recently, the states of Sachsen (“Saxony”) an Hessen adopted similar systems. The Sachsen’s and Hessian’s are uniformed though.

In Berlin the voluntary force was formed as a police reserve during times of extreme political tension between east and west. Following the German reunification, the force was transformed into a voluntary police force. The regular police of Berlin adopted the green and brown police uniforms of rest - Germany, the volunteers maintained the blue uniforms.

Sadly enough, the Berlin force was abolished in 2002 due to political circumstances in Berlin (“A red government”!).

Baden-Württemberg is a state in southwest Germany, bordering with Switzerland and France. It has app. the area of Switzerland or Denmark, and a population of app. 10 mio.

Baden-Württemberg introduced voluntary policing in the early 1950’s due to a serious lack of regular police officers. The idea was to bring more uniformed police officers on the street within a short time.

In those early days the voluntary officers would, in many cases, patrol on their own and do much the same job as the regular officers. Since then the voluntary force has varied greatly in numbers, and at present there are app- 2.200 voluntary officers who perform duty with various units.

The voluntary system is based on the Police law of Baden-Württemberg (“BaWü”). This states that each PD can form a voluntary force, and that voluntary officers are considered police officers according to the police law while on duty. As such a voluntary officer on duty has the basic police powers of arrest etc. A regular officer in his spare time can “put himself on duty” if required. A voluntary officer has to be called on duty, and has no powers when not on duty.

Voluntary officers in (“BaWü”) basically has to meet the same requirements that applicants for the regular force has to. Regular officers are selected and trained centrally, voluntary officers at a local level (each PD on it’s own), although the training requirements are issued by the state government. No criminal record, of good reputation, mature, good health, German citizen (or resident foreigner with good command of the German language). After a screening follows a test and an interview, rounded of by a thorough medical examination. Those who are accepted then start an 84 h. basic training (minimum req., will mostly be exceeded…. / theory, self defence, shooting, driving) followed by 34 h. of “practical on the job training” by routined officers. The volunteers are then deployed to various units or shifts, and will always be on duty with (or under the supervision of) a regular officer. The regular officer will ALLWAYS be senior!

The uniform of the volunteers is the same as that of the regulars, except for the shoulder patches. The regulars will carry stars, the volunteer has bars. The volunteer is also equipped with a baton, handcuffs and a handgun (pistol). Most volunteers (as the regulars also carry a pepper – spray, a folding knife and a “multi – tool”. No German officers (at present) have a personal radio, but hand-held radios may be taken on patrol.

Except for seniority there is no ranking system. As volunteers will always be on duty with regular officers (who will always be senior), there is no need for ranks.

Voluntary officers in BaWü are expected to do an average of 20 h. duty per month, and 30 h. compulsory training each year. The training will be with focus on arresting techniques, self defence and shooting practice. The volunteers in BaWü are being paid app. EUR 6,50 per h. duty.

The volunteers in BaWü are allowed to join the IPA and the police union.

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