Long-haul Patrols: Doubling Down on Border Controls with 12-hour Shifts for Guards
Border guards may reportedly work 12-hour shifts under Dobrindt's plans.
The crackdown on border violations is high on the agenda of the new CSU's Federal Interior Minister, Alexander Dobrindt. According to recent reports, Dobrindt intends to beef up border security and has proposals to achieve this goal.
The ranks of the Federal Reserve Police at the border are rumored to be expanding, with the deployment of an additional six companies, bringing the total to twelve. Mobile control and observation units are also set to be added to the arsenal of enforcement tools. The proposed 12-hour shifts for border officers would significantly boost the current force of around 11,000 officers in their efforts to secure the border, potentially enabling a hike in the number of control stations – currently hovering around 50.
The "Spiegel" cites a supposed teleconference shortly after the election as its source for these claims, with no confirmation coming from the parties involved. Dobrindt has announced a press statement for the late afternoon. Having already pledged to take a firm stance against irregular immigration following the German government change, reports of these intensified border control measures come as no surprise.
The "Spiegel" further speculates that this reinforcement at the borders will involve existing officers remaining on duty and being joined by additional personnel to maintain uninterrupted control. However, managing an approximately 4,000-kilometer-long external border of the Federal Republic may require more control points and personnel than what this adjustment could provide.
Despite the increased pressure on border controls, the new measures seem to have gone unnoticed, at least for now, with border officers in western Germany continuing their regular duties. A spokesperson for the Federal Police Inspectorate in Trier stated that they had not yet received any new instructions and were operating as per usual.
Border controls were reintroduced at all German external borders in September 2024, with the federal government extending the measure for an additional half year until September 15. The new migration policies aim to address the influx of irregular migration and the need for greater control over migration flows. While the specifics of 12-hour shifts for border guards are yet to be confirmed, these stricter border control measures could potentially impact the schedules and workload of the officers involved.
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- Alexander Dobrindt, the new Federal Interior Minister of the CSU, intends to implement stricter community policy regarding border security, proposing extended 12-hour shifts for guards.
- Dobrindt's proposals for a tougher border policy involve expanding the ranks of the Federal Reserve Police and adding mobile control units, as well as increasing the number of control stations.
- The "Spiegel" reports that these reinforcements at the borders will likely involve existing officers working longer shifts and new personnel joining them to maintain uninterrupted control.
- Dobrindt's efforts against irregular immigration align with politics surround war-and-conflicts and general news regarding migration, as Germany grapples with the influx of irregular migrants.
- Despite the announcements of these stricter border control measures, some aspects, such as the specifics of the 12-hour shifts for border guards, are yet to be confirmed.
