Police applicant screenings in Saxony yield rejections for 30 candidates
In the heart of Germany, the Saxon state parliament finds itself embroiled in a debate over the effectiveness and data protection concerns of the recent Police Reliability Checks implemented in May 2024. The new law, designed to screen potential police candidates for potential red flags such as extremist views or reliability issues, has been a subject of criticism from the Left faction.
According to Rico Gebhardt, spokesperson for internal affairs of the Left faction, 15 people were not hired by the police in 2024 based on the new law's criteria. However, concerns have been raised about the high number of individuals with questionable attitudes making it into the police force. The Left faction has submitted questions in the parliament seeking clarity on this matter.
The controversy stems from the use of internet research during the Reliability Checks. While information from police and justice databases is used to determine concerns, the Left faction criticises the practice for data protection reasons. A minor inquiry revealed that internet research was conducted for 553 people, almost all applicants, with no results. In one case, there were unspecified concerns from the internet research, but they remained without consequences.
It is worth noting that during the research process, public websites are researched, potentially generating uncontrolled data from unrelated persons. This raises concerns about the privacy implications of the new checks.
In addition, some police officers and applicants have been denied employment due to "reliability concerns" as per this law. In the first half of 2025, 15 out of 564 applicants in Saxony were denied employment due to these concerns. The official term for such decisions is a "personnel measure decision."
Interestingly, the only intelligence service involved was in a different area, with an applicant for the prison service. The state office for the protection of the constitution has no findings for the "loyalty check," but has 'cleared' all persons, even those whose employment was ultimately denied.
Despite the controversy, the effectiveness of the new law in Saxony during 2024-2025 remains unclear. Without data or studies specifically on Saxony's recruitment, it is not possible to provide an evidence-based assessment. However, it is generally understood that the effectiveness of such checks is measured by how well they prevent unsuitable candidates from entering the force.
In conclusion, the Police Reliability Checks in Saxony have sparked a heated debate, with concerns about data protection and the high number of questionable individuals making it into the police force. As the debate continues, it is crucial to ensure that the checks maintain both the integrity and trustworthiness of the police force, and the privacy rights of the applicants.
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