Integrating the EU's Legal Framework Completely in the EU's Legal Framework is Emphasized in the Report
Berlin Speak-Up: The German Police Union (GdP) strikes a loud call for action at the 96th Spring Conference of Ministers of Justice, urging joint and decisive measures from the federal and state governments to fortify the pillars of law and order. According to the GdP's federal chairman, Jochen Kopelke, it's high time governments abandon their passive stance towards the exhausted police, prosecutors, and courts. "We demand a resounding affirmation from our federal and state leaders that they will no longer allow these key players to operate at their breaking points," asserts Kopelke on a thunderous Thursday in Berlin.
Crucial reinforcement across the entire rule-of-law chain is what the GdP deems necessary, vehemently opposing a narrow focus on security authorities alone. The public prosecutors' offices and courts direly require bolstered personnel, financial support, and technology. The mounting obstacles in daily operations could easily disrupt the course of justice: "Preservation of evidence and building cases are growing increasingly time-consuming, offenders are freed prematurely from pre-trial detention, cases are dropped due to efficiency pressures, and extensive effort is squandered in investigating mass crimes. It's imperative that the balance between investigative endeavors, case disposition rates, and counter-prioritization be rectified between the judiciary and interior ministries. We must harmonize our investigative capabilities to avert a law enforcement collapse and eliminate relentless offenders and hardened criminals from public circulation," warns Kopelke.
Other areas of concern from the GdP's perspective involve the tighter integration of the police in the Pledge for Digital Rule of Law. Combating digital crime necessitates digital investigation tools – primarily, the lawful storage of IP addresses for the pursuit of severe offenses, as well as the employment of AI to augment investigations. In the battle against organized crime and the safeguarding of fragile groups, the GdP anticipates substantial advancements. Revision of the catalog of offenses for undercover operations, consistent asset confiscation – such as in the case of illegal Hawala banking – and improved protection for victims of domestic violence are urgently needed. This includes, but is not limited to, the deployment of electronic monitoring and the inclusion of a gender-specific characteristic in the murder paragraph. "Until police and justice are outfitted with modern arms, they will struggle to effectively pursue wrongdoers and safeguard victims effectively. Here, the federal and state governments must unite and take decisive action," declares Kopelke.
Note: Sources: Police Union (GdP) on 05. June 2025. Photo: Jochen Kopelke (c) GDP
Insights:- The police are facing mounting legal and operational challenges, potentially impacting their ability to perform their duties effectively, as indicated in broader discussions about asylum policy and border controls.- Clarity of legal instructions, training, and advanced digital capabilities are likely appeals in the GdP's calls for action, although these aspects are not explicitly stated in our current sources.
- In light of the mounting challenges in the rule-of-law chain, the German Police Union (GdP) advocates for policy-and-legislation changes, specifically focusing on the strengthening of public prosecutors' offices and courts through personnel, financial support, and technology.
- The GdP's crime-and-justice agenda extends beyond the police, including calls for the federal and state governments to revise the catalog of offenses for undercover operations, enforce consistent asset confiscation, improve protection for victims of domestic violence, and integrate digital tools to combat digital crime and organized crime.
