Press
The SPD wants to spend billions on the police. GdP leader Jochen Kopelke has an idea where the money is urgently needed – and warns of a new phenomenon.
Berlin – Chancellor Olaf Scholz spoke of a “turning point” two years ago when he announced a special fund of 100 billion euros for the Bundeswehr in light of the war in Ukraine. Leading SPD politicians now want such a turning point when it comes to internal security. The chairmen of the influential SPD state groups North Rhine-Westphalia and Lower Saxony/Bremen recently called for special funds for police and security authorities in the Bundestag.
Putin spies, terror plans, right-wing extremist Reich citizens: “Security situation is tense”
How high this will be is unclear – but in security circles there is talk of a double-digit billion amount. Jochen Kopelke, head of the police union (GdP), had already brought such a special fund into play in an interview with our editorial team at the beginning of the year. Because the security situation is much more tense than it was five years ago, Kopelke said at the time: “The world conflicts have a direct impact on our lives in Germany.” Now he made it clear where, in his opinion, there is a massive shortage of police.
The past year in particular was particularly challenging: mafia business in Erfurt, mass brawls in the Ruhr area, raids against right-wing extremist Reich citizens in Bavaria and an alarm in Cologne due to suspected terrorism. And these days, attacks on politicians and attack plans by suspected Putin spies are keeping the security authorities busy. “Since the foiled terrorist attack in Grafenwöhr, the general public has become aware that internal and external security cannot be separated,” said Kopelke IPPEN.MEDIA. Two German-Russians were arrested in the Bavarian city because they were said to have spied on a US base. It is good that the SPD is committed to supporting not only the Bundeswehr, but also the police with its own special fund, said Kopelke.
SPD politician Matthias Ecke attacked: Faeser is calling for more police presence
In fact, calls for increased police visibility are becoming louder: Federal Interior Minister Nancy Faeser (SPD), for example, called for more police presence for election workers after the brutal attack on European politician Matthias Ecke in Dresden. However, that would simply require more staff. The police and unions have been complaining about a chronic shortage of staff for years.
Oliver Huth, head of the BDK police union in North Rhine-Westphalia, made it clear in an interview a few months ago that too little is being invested in training: “You have to train your colleagues so that they can start working at the police department straight away.” Because Since there is still only uniform training for everyone instead of special training, it will take years before junior officers can support the criminal police: “And we urgently need the support.”
Cyber attacks on critical infrastructure: GdP boss wants more money for modern IT technology
GdP boss Jochen Kopelke points out a new phenomenon: “Attacks on critical infrastructure are now prepared and carried out in cyberspace, and terrorist attacks are planned via the Internet. The police in Germany are inadequately prepared for the new threat situation.”
Additional resources should therefore not only be invested in more personnel for cyber and terrorist defense, but also in modern IT technology so that investigators can meet threats on an equal footing. “We also need significantly more staff for border security. “Germany must not seal itself off from people from other EU states, but we must regain control over who enters our country,” said Kopelke.
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