North Rhine-Westphalia’s Interior Minister, Herbert Reul, has stated that uniformed police should be deployed in asylum residences so they can “act in a way that builds trust.” The CDU politician shared these views with the newspaper “Die Zeit”, noting that while prohibited signs listing “no knives” are present in these facilities, they are not enough. Reul insisted that residents must understand that the German state holds the sole authority regarding violence, advocating for the strict enforcement of even minor regulations.
Regarding knife attacks, Reul announced that he had commissioned statistics. According to these figures, most incidents where knives are used occur within German homes, while on the streets, refugees are often the ones involved.
Furthermore, Reul proposed reviewing current sentencing policies, arguing that the juvenile justice system should not always be applied to perpetrators aged 18 to 21. He suggested that the adult criminal code should be used more frequently, referencing how things were handled in the 1950s. While clarifying that he is not suggesting that children should be sent to prison, Reul expressed a desire to rethink the concept of criminal responsibility, stating that anyone who commits something serious must face consequences.
Finally, the minister expressed concern that young police officers might become overwhelmed while working in social hotspots where many foreigners live. He warned that young officers who are not emotionally stable risk deteriorating if constantly posted to troubled neighborhoods. Therefore, he proposed that certain older officers be allowed to stay on duty longer, suggesting they could serve as mentors and guides for the younger staff.
