Berlin Police

Berlin Police
Name	Berlin Police
Motto	Für Eure Sicherheit (For Your Security)
Formed	1848
Jurisdiction	Berlin
Headquarters	Platz der Luftbrücke, Tempelhof
Chief	Barbara Slowik
Agencytype	State police
Parentagency	Senate of Berlin
Subdivisions	Direktion
Officers	~17,000
Civilian	~2,800
Website	https://www.berlin.de/polizei/

Berlin Police. The Berlin Police is the state police force for the German state of Berlin, responsible for law enforcement across the entire city-state. It is one of the largest police forces in Germany, operating under the authority of the Senate Department for the Interior, Digitalization and Sport. The force maintains a significant presence at major events and is a key partner in national security frameworks like the Bundespolizei and Bundeskriminalamt.

History

The modern force traces its origins to the Royal Prussian Police established in the mid-19th century, with the Berlin Police Headquarters being formally instituted in 1848. Its development was heavily influenced by the political upheavals of the German Empire, the Weimar Republic, and the subsequent Nazi era, during which it was incorporated into the SS-controlled Ordnungspolizei. Following World War II, the Allied Control Council oversaw its reorganization, leading to a unique division during the Cold War where separate forces operated in West Berlin and East Berlin. The West Berlin Police fell under the oversight of the Allied Kommandatura, while the East Berlin force was part of the Volkspolizei of the German Democratic Republic. The German reunification in 1990 necessitated the complex merger of these two distinct entities into a single, unified organization under the Basic Law for the Federal Republic of Germany.

Organization

The force is headed by the Police President, currently Barbara Slowik, and is subordinate to the Senate of Berlin's interior department. Its structure is divided into several central Directorates, including the Direktion Einsatz for operations and the Direktion Kriminalität for criminal investigations, which houses units like the Landeskriminalamt Berlin. Territorial policing is managed through six local Police Precincts and a seventh precinct dedicated to Berlin Brandenburg Airport. Specialized units include the Beweissicherungs- und Festnahmeeinheit (BFE) for arrests and evidence, the Mobiles Einsatzkommando (MEK) for tactical operations, and the Spezialeinsatzkommando (SEK) for counter-terrorism. The Water Protection Police patrols the city's extensive waterways, including the Spree and Landwehrkanal.

Duties and responsibilities

Primary duties encompass preventing and prosecuting crimes under the Strafgesetzbuch, maintaining public order, and providing emergency response across the city. Officers conduct regular patrols in neighborhoods like Mitte and Kreuzberg, manage large-scale demonstrations such as those on May Day, and provide security for major events at venues like the Olympiastadion Berlin and the Berliner Philharmonie. The force collaborates closely with the Bundespolizei on railway security and border protection, and with the Bundeskriminalamt on organized crime and terrorism cases. It also engages in community policing initiatives and crime prevention programs throughout districts like Neukölln and Charlottenburg-Wilmersdorf.

Equipment and vehicles

Standard-issue sidearms are the Heckler & Koch P30 and the Heckler & Koch MP5 submachine gun for specialized units. Patrol officers typically utilize vehicles from the Volkswagen and Mercedes-Benz fleets, including the Volkswagen Touran and Mercedes-Benz Vito. The Spezialeinsatzkommando employs armored vehicles like the Survivor R and specialized equipment for high-risk operations. The Water Protection Police operates a fleet of boats on the Havel and Tegeler See, while the Reiterstaffel (mounted police) patrols large parks such as the Tiergarten and Tempelhofer Feld. Communication and command are supported through digital radio networks integrated with systems used by the Bundeswehr and other federal agencies.

Controversies and incidents

The force has faced scrutiny over its policing of political protests, including clashes during the 1980s squatter movement in Kreuzberg and more recent demonstrations by groups like Ende Gelände. A significant incident was the 2016 Berlin truck attack near the Breitscheidplatz, which prompted reviews of counter-terrorism coordination with the Bundesnachrichtendienst. Allegations of racial profiling and excessive force, particularly in districts with diverse populations like Neukölln, have been subjects of ongoing public debate and investigations by bodies like the Berlin House of Representatives. The force has also been involved in major criminal investigations, such as the pursuit of the National Socialist Underground and the handling of the 2020 Berlin knife attack.

See also

* Bundespolizei * Landeskriminalamt * Polizei (Germany) * History of Berlin * States of Germany

Category:Police forces of Germany Category:Organisations based in Berlin Category:Government of Berlin