Independent scholar advocates for unbiased investigation into law enforcement practices.
Conflict researcher Andreas Zick has advocated for an in-depth analysis of racist and far-right activities within the police force in North Rhine-Westphalia (NRW). He urged the necessity of an independent investigation, likening the need for scrutiny within the police to the examination of abuse cases in religious institutions. "It's high time for an unbiased assessment," he remarked to the Neue Westfälische.
Zick emphasized that scrutiny would benefit the police, stating, "Strong institutions are those that open themselves up." Currently, NRW authorities suspect around thirty police officers of sharing extreme-right content in chat groups. Zick contends such actions contravene the core values of the police force. Consequently, an unbiased investigation, he maintains, "is in their own interest."
According to Zick, who directs the Institute for Conflict and Violence Research at the University of Bielefeld, the police should establish increased links with researchers, media, and non-governmental organizations. He argued that the police's current isolation allows extremists to infiltrate the force.
Michael Maatz, deputy chairman of the NRW police union (GdP), challenges Zick's assertion. "The hypothesis that police officers form a closed community is fundamentally untrue," he stated to the Neue Westfälische. Instead, Maatz contends that racism and far-right extremism are societal issues.
The increasing incidence of far-right extremism in Germany, with the Reichsbürger movement engaging in violent acts, provides context for Zick's call for enhanced police scrutiny. In addition, the Federal Office for the Protection of the Constitution has classified the Alternative for Germany (AfD) party, a far-right organization, as a right-wing extremist group, leading to intensified surveillance of the party and its members. In the context of NRW, with its history of Islamist threats and the police's focus on combating anti-Muslim racism, the potential for racist incidents within the police force is a matter of concern.
An independent investigation would provide insights into the prevalence and nature of racist and far-right activities within the police force, enabling more effective strategies to be implemented. In addition, such an investigation could contribute to improving police-community relations by minimizing discriminatory practices, thus boosting public trust in law enforcement. However, as of now, no specific details about an ongoing or recent investigation focusing on racist and far-right incidents within the NRW police force are available.
Other researchers might find it beneficial to examine the extent and nature of general-news issues like racism and far-right activities within the NRW police force, similar to how investigations are conducted into abuse cases in religious institutions. In light of heightened far-right extremism in Germany, such an in-depth analysis could contribute to crime-and-justice solutions, improve police-community relations, and increase public trust in the police.
