Concerns regarding safety and security at railway stations and on trains across Germany are prompting a proposed initiative to bolster preventative measures. Members of the CDU/CSU parliamentary group are advocating for a nationwide “security offensive” emphasizing the need to address escalating incidents and safeguard public sentiment.
According to Alexander Throm, the parliamentary group’s spokesperson for internal policy, the focus will be on enhancing security within Germany’s borders, building on recent efforts to strengthen national borders. Central to the proposed plan is the expanded use of video surveillance equipped with intelligent facial recognition technology. Throm highlighted that the technology is already proven and urged for its immediate implementation, suggesting that data privacy concerns should not unduly impede the protection of citizens’ safety. He cautioned that unchecked criminal activity concentrated at railway hubs could severely erode public trust and well-being.
The proposal is receiving support from the Federal Police. Andreas Roßkopf, head of the Police Union (GdP) for the Federal Police, stated the need for rapid deployment of AI-powered video surveillance systems, including the storage of recordings. He indicated that pilot projects have demonstrated the effectiveness of these systems and they are ready for immediate operational use.
Acknowledging ongoing resource constraints, Roßkopf also pointed to a shortfall of approximately 5,000 Federal Police officers currently assigned to railway station duties. While acknowledging modern surveillance technologies cannot fully compensate for personnel shortages, he emphasized their ability to significantly ease the burden on existing officers and improve overall operational efficiency.
