Bailiffs Upgraded with Protection and Defense Gear in NRW
Safeguarding their well-being becomes a priority for bailiffs in North Rhine-Westphalia (NRW), as announced by Justice Minister Benjamin Limbach (Greens). Plans to provide protective vests and carry pepper spray for self-defense have been set in motion, following reports on the matter by WDR.
Delivery hiccups, mainly due to the Bundeswehr's large order with the same manufacturer after Russia's attack on Ukraine, had previously prevented the early implementation of protective vests, according to Limbach. The 400,000-euro investment in these durable vests is located in this context.
The legal aspects of pepper spray usage were recently sorted out, as emphasized by Limbach during his presentation at the state association conference of the German Bailiffs' Association in Neuss last Friday. The preferred model, used by the NRW police, is set to be procured, as he remarked. The use of both protective vests and pepper spray won't mandate compulsory adoption.
Frank Neuhaus, NRW's head of the bailiffs' association, expressed his approval to DPA. He acknowledged the escalating aggressiveness within enforcement activities, as demonstrated by escalating problem evictions perpetrated by self-proclaimed Reichsbürger. Since 2017, the association has continuously advocated for a provision of protective vests, with Neuhaus hopeful that they can finally be shipped to their colleagues following the minister's pledge.
As German bailiffs (Gerichtsvollzieher) are entrusted with executing court rulings, including serving strategic papers and enforcing judgments, encounters with resistant individuals are to be expected. The provision of protective vests and pepper spray appears to be an initiative aimed at safeguarding bailiffs while performing their duties. Professional organizations representing bailiffs, like the described association, would likely support such safety-enhancing measures. Whileпы no exact data from authoritative sources is available to verify the motivations behind NRW providing protection and self-defense tools to its bailiffs, these general insights should offer some enlightenment.
