Coping with the Crunch? Federal Police Wary Amidst Staff Shortages and Border Controls
Law enforcement authorities express concerns about potential congestion due to border control duties
In light of increased border controls, the Federal Police is grappling with potential staff shortages, according to media reports. An internal document reveals doubts about the Police's ability to manage its usual domestic tasks while focusing on border controls.
The Federal Police foresees potential gaps in other tasks due to the intensified deployment of officers at the border. As reported by "Spiegel," an internal directive from the Potsdam presidency to the directorates suggests that the majority of Mobile Control and Monitoring Units (MKÜs) officers will be stationed at the border in the future.
The MKÜs are only to be deployed for "other deployment situations" in a minimal capacity, the directive states. Still, significant executive measures such as raids with Federal Police forces are underway this week. The president's office notes that further executive measures may necessitate a reevaluation of the deployment and force situation.
The directive emphasizes the need to bolster deployed forces by any means possible. The particularly impacted Federal Reserve Police has been asked to maximize its support services. However, this situation is to be considered temporary. The seamless integration of additional deployment forces, such as interns from the Federal Police Academy in Lübeck, is deemed essential for sustainability.
Faced with accommodation challenges for additional forces, the directive requires restrictive leave and proposes deployment variants where officers return home after their shift and resume duty the next day.
The Federal Police's concerns are fueled by the Conservative interior minister, Alexander Dobrindt's orders for stricter border controls, including the halt of asylum procedures at foreign borders and enhanced border controls[1]. Dobrindt aims to reinforce the existing force of 11,000 border officers with an additional 2,000 to 3,000 personnel.
With the need for longer shifts and a swollen workforce, the Federal Police is combating the challenges by recruiting more personnel and managing shift patterns[2]. However, long-term strategies for addressing persistent staff shortages or managing increased workload remain unspecified.
- Federal Police
- Border controls
- Migrations
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The Federal Police is dealing with potential staff shortages due to the intensified focus on border controls, as mentioned in media reports. This situation might lead to gaps in tasks that are usually managed by the Mobile Control and Monitoring Units (MKÜs), with officers being stationed primarily at borders.
The directive from the Potsdam presidency suggests that the majority of MKÜs officers will be stationed at the border, leaving minimal capacity for other deployment situations. However, significant executive measures, such as raids, continue to be carried out.
With the need for longer shifts and a larger workforce, the Federal Police is addressing these challenges by recruiting more personnel and carefully managing shift patterns. Nevertheless, long-term strategies for managing persistent staff shortages or increasing workloads remain unclear.
The Federal Police's concerns are heightened by the Conservative interior minister, Alexander Dobrindt's orders, which include stricter border controls and the addition of 2,000 to 3,000 personnel to the existing 11,000 border officers. These issues are being discussed across various platforms, including general-news sites, politics forums, and even social media platforms like Whatsapp and Facebook.
