Enhanced border controls in Germany over the past three months: results and impacts explored.
The German federal police are currently grappling with increased pressure due to the implementation of stricter internal border controls, which began in May [3]. According to recent reports, a total of 9,506 people were turned away at the borders between May 8 and July 31, with four-digit numbers of rejections at the borders with Poland (1,816), Switzerland (1,760), and Austria (1,623) [1].
These stricter measures, announced by the German Interior Minister, Dobrindt, have resulted in a significant increase in the number of federal police officers deployed at the borders. The daily deployment has risen from 11,000 to 14,000 officers, representing just under a third of the total federal police force [3].
However, the expansion of the federal police force is underway, with plans to add 1,000 police officers in 2026 as part of broader government investments in internal security [2]. Despite this planned increase, there are ongoing recruitment challenges in Germany's security forces, which could also affect federal police staffing capacity indirectly [1].
The Interior Ministry is keeping the number of officers at airports and train stations secret for "tactical reasons," raising concerns about potential staff shortages during the summer travel rush [1]. Critics have expressed similar concerns, with some departments changing their duty rosters and largely foregoing training and further education [1].
The federal police had accumulated 2.9 million hours of overtime by June 30, with the figure likely to have risen due to the additional workload at the borders [1]. Most of the overtime has been accumulated by officers over many years, suggesting that existing officers may face higher workloads and potential overtime until new personnel are fully onboarded.
The increased responsibilities from border security are not the only challenges facing the federal police. Rising crime at train stations and increasing violence among traveling soccer fans are causes for concern [1]. According to the GdP, staffing levels at airports and train stations are "almost identical" to last year, but a long-standing shortage of around 4,000 officers at train stations and stops could be a possible consequence of the increased border controls [1].
Despite the pressures, the federal police have assured that they will fulfill their legally assigned tasks [4]. However, the ongoing recruitment challenges and increased duties could potentially impact the efficiency and effectiveness of the federal police in the long run.
References: 1. Bundespolizei unter Druck - Spiegel Online 2. Bundespolizei erhält 1.000 neue Beamte - Tagesschau 3. Bundespolizei: 9,506 Menschen am innerdeutschen Grenzverkehr abgelehnt - Welt Online 4. Bundesministerium des Innern: Bundespolizei erfüllt alle Aufgaben - Bundesregierung.de
- The ongoing challenges faced by the federal police, such as increased border duties and recruitment difficulties, are raising questions about the long-term effectiveness and efficiency of their policy-and-legislation enforcement within the realm of general-news and politics.
- The current situation involving the federal police, including stricter border controls, heavy workloads, and staffing shortages, is a matter of ongoing discussion and concern within the realms of policy-and-legislation, politics, and general-news.
