Evelyn Palla, the CEO of Deutsche Bahn, welcomed the initiative from the Federal Ministry of Justice to impose harsher sentences on individuals who attack railway employees. She told the media group Funke that it is “enormously important that the state now sets clear boundaries to the increased readiness for violence,” noting how frequently she had observed cases where legal proceedings were dismissed as trivial, allowing perpetrators to escape punishment.
Justice Minister Stefanie Hubig (SPD) is currently planning new legislation designed to provide special protection to train conductors, as well as police officers, bailiffs, firefighters, rescue workers, medical personnel, and employees of other public transport operators.
Under the proposed law, attackers will face prison sentences of at least six months, or at least one year in particularly severe instances. Previously, attackers faced minimum penalties of three or six months.
