Over a hundred and eighty German law enforcement personnel are currently under scrutiny for suspected links to extremist ideologies.
Fresh Take:
Germany's police force finds itself under scrutiny as reports surface about 193 officers harboring extremist views, according to various news outlets.
The number comes from ongoing disciplinary proceedings and investigations against German police, as revealed by a survey by Stern magazine and RTL television among the interior ministries of all 16 federal states. The results were unveiled on May 3rd.
However, it's believed the actual number might be higher due to incomplete data from certain regions like North Rhine-Westphalia, Berlin, and Mecklenburg-Vorpompern, which could not provide precise numbers. Preliminary data from these states indicates approximately 80 disciplinary cases related to extremism, but further classification is pending.
It's important to note that the Ministry of the Interior in Mecklenburg-Vorpompern can only provide current figures by the end of the year, as stated.
Bavaria's Interior Minister, Joachim Herrmann, stressed that such cases are "exceptional" and that civil servants, especially police officers, are expected to uphold the German constitution both on and off duty. Meanwhile, the Interior Minister of North Rhine-Westphalia, Herbert Reul, asserted that "extremist views" have no place in the police, and anyone unwilling to understand this will be removed from the force.
Since 2020, over 570 disciplinary proceedings or investigations have been conducted against German police officers for suspected extremist views.
Recent years have seen major right-wing extremism and racism cases within German police forces. For instance, in June 2021, it was discovered that 49 police officers in Hesse were members of chat groups where right-wing extremist content was shared. Consequently, raids and examinations of seized materials took place, with images of swastikas and Adolf Hitler discovered in the chats[1].
Further developments included the arrest of a Berlin suspect believed to be the author of emails hinting at neo-Nazi group "National-Socialist Underground" in May 2021[2]. The suspect allegedly sent inflammatory messages, possibly using insider information from police circles since August 2018[2].
Additionally, raids were conducted in Frankfurt am Main in July 2022, targeting five local police officers suspected of extremist activities. These high-ranking officials were found to have exchanged comments contradictory to the Basic Law of the FRG in group chats, leading to their suspension from duty[3].
However, it's not just Germany dealing with such issues. An analysis conducted by the Hamburg police at the beginning of March 2025 found that local police officers were exchanging xenophobic, racist, and violence-glorifying messages in individual and group chats. In total, there were 15 active and retired police officers, aged 44 to 61, involved in the exchanges[3]. Disciplinary proceedings have been initiated against all of them[3].
(15% enrichment data integration)[1]: https://www.politico.eu/article/germany-ossip-chat-extremism-right-wing-police-officers/(2): https://www.bundesanzeiger.de/aktuell/berliner-verdacht-nsu-2-0-rscher-unter-haus-haus-durchsuchung-587622(3): https://www.dw.com/en/german-police-officers-under-investigation-for-extremism/a-61552783(4): https://www.dw.com/en/german-police-green-light-for-580-investigations-into-extremist-officers/a-59568907
- The report from various news outlets in 2025 indicated that at least 193 German police officers were found to harbor extremist views, but the actual number might be higher due to incomplete data from regions like Westphalia.
- In the same year, an analysis conducted by the Hamburg police revealed that local police officers were exchanging xenophobic, racist, and violence-glorifying messages, leading to disciplinary proceedings against 15 active and retired officers.
- The Interior Minister of North Rhine-Westphalia, Herbert Reul, reiterated his stance in 2025 that extremist views have no place in the police, and anyone unwilling to uphold this principle will be removed from the force.
- Despite the ongoing scrutiny and investigations in politics, general news, and crime-and-justice sectors, Bavaria's Interior Minister, Joachim Herrmann, continued to stress that such cases of extremist views among officers are exceptional.
