Police union representatives are intensifying calls for a nationwide firework ban on New Year’s Eve, sharply criticizing regional interior ministers for a perceived lack of seriousness regarding officer safety. Jochen Kopelke, federal chairman of the Police Union (GdP), voiced his concerns in an interview with ntv, drawing a provocative comparison between the measures taken against football hooligans and the failure to adequately address New Year’s Eve violence.
“If interior ministers are willing to ban fighting ultras from stadiums, why aren’t they willing to confiscate fireworks from individuals attacking police officers on the streets on New Year’s Eve? I see no difference” Kopelke stated, highlighting what he views as a double standard in enforcement.
The GdP’s criticism reflects a growing frustration within the police force concerning the escalating levels of aggression experienced during the annual celebration. While authorities routinely implement restrictions on football matches to curb violence, similar stringent measures are conspicuously absent when dealing with fireworks-related assaults on law enforcement.
Kopelke argued that the current approach by regional interior ministers is dismissive of the dangers faced by officers. He is demanding a renewed and substantial debate on a comprehensive firework ban, pushing for its implementation by the year 2026, signaling a clear ultimatum to regional leaders. The union’s call raises significant questions regarding the prioritization of public safety versus perceived freedoms and challenges politicians to demonstrate a deeper commitment to protecting the personnel tasked with upholding the law.
