The Konrad-Adenauer-Stiftung (KAS), a foundation associated with the Christian Democratic Union, is calling for closer collaboration between police forces and intelligence agencies in response to modern hybrid threats. In a position paper published by the foundation, the organization suggests concrete reforms for German security agencies.
The KAS authors, in an analysis titled “Turning Point for the Principle of Separation!”, argue that the necessity of a “security policy turning point” goes beyond expanding existing powers. Instead, it demands a modern reorganization of inter-agency cooperation and a substantial development of Germany’s overall security architecture. They emphasize that the strict principle currently separating intelligence services (like the Federal Office for the Protection of the Constitution) and the police must be adjusted to meet the complex demands of hybrid threat environments.
Regarding counter-espionage and sabotage efforts, the recommendations state that German police should regularly be informed about persons or events that are already known to the intelligence services. The KAS authors caution that establishing security-relevant findings does not necessarily require the full transfer of intelligence information. They propose that a technically standardized querying process (such as a “Hit-/No-Hit” system) could be enough to signal to police officers that relevant details already exist elsewhere.
Furthermore, the foundation demands that frontline personnel receive stronger training and awareness regarding signs of espionage, sabotage, transnational repression, murder and kidnapping plots, and foreign influence. To achieve this, they recommend establishing consistent recording and verification standards, along with standardized reporting channels. For example, the introduction of a designated “Hybrid Threats” category within police case management systems has been suggested.
The paper also addresses current limitations in cooperation. It notes that collaboration between police and intelligence agencies frequently depends on personal exchanges conducted by liaison officers, a resource that cannot always be guaranteed across all agencies. Consequently, gathering individual security-relevant details and synthesizing them into a shared risk assessment often remains a manual, case-by-case, and resource-intensive process. Based on these deficiencies, KAS experts urge the federal government to consider establishing a dedicated, independent analysis and situation picture center.
These proposals come amidst ongoing governmental efforts. In recent months, the government has advanced several legislative projects, including expanding digital investigation powers and reforming the Federal Intelligence Service (BND) and the Federal Office for the Protection of the Constitution. Additionally, security agencies have recently launched new joint centers to combat hybrid attacks, such as GAZ Hybrid and the Joint Drone Defense Center (GDAZ).
