The Police Union (GdP) regards the measures adopted at the railway security summit as an important first step toward improving safety on train services.
“”The summit is to be seen as very positive”” said Andreas Roßkopf, GdP chairman for the Federal Police division, in a statement to the “Rheinische Post” (Saturday edition). “”A security summit that gives great hope that real action will now follow””. He added that much more remains to be done. “”Now we must build the security workshops together with the Federal Police as quickly as possible. Regional exchange is extremely important so that we, as Federal Police, can respond precisely””.
Roßkopf also said that the Federal Police need better staffing. He estimated that some 3,500 additional colleagues are required at railway stations to act more proactively. “”Regular train patrols are currently the exception. This must be intensified. The widespread three‑man patrols at stations must now be implemented””.
The SPD interior expert Sebastian Fiedler also welcomed the results of the railway security summit but called for further steps, especially regarding the Federal Police. “”It is good that the Railway Board is now acting and addressing the improvement of safety for passengers and its own employees”” he told the “Rheinische Post”. “”I think it is very positive that the proposals of the Railway and Transport Union (EVG) will now be implemented and that body‑cams will be purchased nationwide. This allows the railway to fulfill its own most important responsibility: protecting its employees as well as possible””.
Fiedler said the SPD parliamentary group intends to consolidate all security‑relevant information into a single “railway situation picture” for the Federal Police. “”So far, security‑relevant information unfortunately exists in various places”” he criticized. “”The SPD group wants to strengthen the role of the Federal Police in railway security noticeably. The responsibility and technical supervision – especially concerning the deployment of security personnel – must lie with the Federal Police””. He added that the result must be a noticeable increase in presence at stations and on trains. While doing so, the group also supports a significant reduction of Federal Police staff at inland border controls.
The Greens, on the other hand, criticize the federal government for insisting on permanent border checks by the Federal Police at the expense of railway safety after the summit. “”The deadly attack on a train guard is not an isolated incident – it is the tragic apex of a development that, despite the alarmingly high numbers, has been neglected for too long”” said Greens parliamentary group leader Irene Mihalic to the “Rheinische Post”. She added: “”Instead of strengthening personnel at stations, the federal government clings to permanent border controls – a security policy mistake. The Federal Police are needed where people are exposed to threats on a daily basis. Visible presence at stations protects; everything else is symbolic politics””. The Greens politician argued that the same should apply to railway staff. “”Enhanced teamwork in trains should be examined to protect employees””. She also noted that body‑cams, activated in concrete danger situations, can have a de‑escalating effect and secure evidence.
