The police union in Berlin (GdP) is calling on politicians to facilitate job transfers for officers between different German states. Benjamin Jendro, the spokesman for the Berlin GdP, told the “Frankfurter Allgemeine Zeitung” that improved policies would open doors for officers wishing to move, allowing states that seek highly professional police talent from Berlin to pursue their opportunities.
Jendro emphasized that the Interior Ministers’ Conference must quickly introduce flexibility while simultaneously establishing definitive parameters for state changes. This statement followed remarks made by Manuel Hagel, the Interior Minister of Baden-Württemberg, who had been actively recruiting officers from the capital after the left-wing party secured victory in Berlin.
Currently, the Berlin GdP spokesman stressed, moving between states is “almost impossible.” He explained that transfers typically require a barter partner, should constitute a matter of social hardship, or be facilitated through promotion. He added that the common issue with finding a trade partner is that few officers are interested in relocating to Berlin. The GdP spokesman also commented on the previous agreement among the state interior ministers that prohibited “raubnernennung”-the poaching of officers from other states without the consent of their current employer. According to Jendro, this agreement, which the GdP always viewed as legally unsustainable, now appears to be redundant.
In addition to the interstate transfer issue, the union desires a clear declaration from the upcoming Berlin state government regarding law enforcement. While Jendro noted the positive commitment against antisemitism, he also requested a definite pledge regarding the Berlin Police. He stated that the future government must continue to invest in the city’s safety and push forward with offensive initiatives in officer training. He warned that deficits in police personnel in the capital would negatively affect the entire country.
