The Police Union (GdP) is calling for concrete consequences following the Islamist attack during the Christopher-Street-Day (CSD) in Berlin, while simultaneously cautioning against populist demands and hasty political decisions.
In a position paper released by the Federal Executive Board, which was reported by the “Redaktionsnetzwerk Deutschland,” the GdP asserts that the legal-political discussion following the attack must be grounded in “the principles of the rule of law and a factual analysis.”
The union currently sees no reason for immediate changes to the Juvenile Court Act. Instead, they propose waiting for the systematic evaluation of the law outlined in the coalition agreement. Only after this evaluation can it be assessed whether changes are necessary. The GdP Federation Executive Board noted that “an isolated tightening of individual regulations under the current impression appears inappropriate.”
However, the GdP does identify areas where reform is needed, particularly in judicial specialization. Cases involving terrorism or extremism place unique demands on predicting the danger level and social outcomes of offenders. To adequately assess radicalization processes, danger assessments, and the effectiveness of deradicalization measures, specialized professional knowledge is required. Therefore, the union suggests exploring whether specialized juvenile chambers should be created within regional courts or assigned directly to high regional courts for state security cases involving young people and those under 27.
The GdP also advocates for changes in anti-terrorism criminal law. The union demands the reintroduction of criminality for the use of propaganda in support of terrorist organizations. This would involve punishing the public promotion of terrorist groups or the public expression of sympathy for their goals or actions, allowing authorities to effectively counter extremist propaganda before concrete support or preparation actions take place.
Crucially, the GdP does not endorse a “blanket ankle-chaining or precautionary detention requirement for all persons classified as risks.” Instead, they require a “graded measures concept that is oriented toward the specific danger situation of the individual case.” Furthermore, they stress that the existing legal rules for these matters across the federal states and the federal government are too different and urgently need harmonization.
Finally, the police union emphasizes the necessity of preserving the “civil nature of the police.” While viewing combating terrorism as a permanent core task of security agencies, the police must be “personally, technically, and legally equipped” to face current threat situations. Alongside this need for readiness, the GdP maintains its commitment to the “principle of a citizen-oriented police.” The union warns that the development of police powers and resources must not lead to the militarization of the police force.
