The head of the German Police Union (GdP), Jochen Kopelke, is intensifying his call for a nationwide firework ban, citing increasingly unmanageable conditions for law enforcement during New Year’s Eve. In an interview with T-Online, Kopelke argued that anything beyond the smallest, traditional sparklers is currently creating significant problems, necessitating a fundamental prohibition to achieve immediate impact.
He described the current situation as unsustainable, stating that police are overwhelmed, struggling to respond to the sheer volume of calls and incidents that arise after midnight. “By 4 AM, we simply cannot keep up. We experience moments of lawlessness because we cannot be everywhere and the influx of calls and deployments overwhelms us” Kopelke explained.
While increased police presence has provided some respite recently, Kopelke warned that this solution is nearing its limit. “We are running out of personnel” he stated, expressing concern over the ability to consistently protect the population, particularly during New Year’s Eve. He asserted that maintaining public safety is becoming increasingly difficult, fuelling a palpable sense of insecurity among citizens. “We cannot fulfill certain citizen requests and that understandably creates a feeling of insecurity” he added.
Kopelke’s comments included a sharp critique of the federal government, accusing politicians of prioritizing electoral concerns over public safety. He specifically targeted Interior Minister Alexander Dobrindt, alleging a misallocation of resources. “The political establishment is acutely aware of the severity of New Year’s Eve in certain areas of Germany. The issue isn’t a lack of knowledge, but a reluctance to act, driven by the need to secure votes” Kopelke asserted. He criticized Dobrindt’s reluctance to amend the Explosives Act, while simultaneously deploying 15,000 German police officers to the borders, diverting resources needed for urban and transport security. Kopelke emphasized that Dobrindt will be held accountable for the outcome of this year’s New Year’s Eve handling.
Dismissing the argument put forward by North Rhine-Westphalia’s Interior Minister Herbert Reul – that a firework ban would be unmanageable – Kopelke drew a provocative parallel. “If Mr. Reul argues that way, I question why we have a cannabis law in the first place. Then countless other laws couldn’t exist either”. He challenged Reul to experience firsthand a night on the front lines where law enforcement is demonstrably unable to maintain control, underscoring the urgency of the situation.
