Voluntary police service
A voluntary police service is a service of police tasks performed by non-full-time police officers. In many countries trained volunteers act as a kind of "auxiliary police" or reserve to support the regular police force.
In Germany, this service is a voluntary police service - called Sicherheitswacht in Bavaria and Saxony - a state institution. It is intended to maintain or restore public safety and order through patrol duty in assigned areas . He acts in the field of security .
Germany
There is a voluntary police service in Germany in the federal states of Baden-Württemberg , Bavaria , Hesse and Saxony . The federal states are responsible for setting up a voluntary police service. While the voluntary police service in Baden-Württemberg was set up in May 1963, Hesse did not decide to set it up until 2000. In Brandenburg there are the so-called security partners , who have no special powers or training, and also for other areas such as the Neighborhood help can be used.
Participation in the voluntary police service is voluntary, hourly and often limited to 40 hours per month. As a rule, the employees receive an expense allowance. It is not a job, but a function in the state and social community. In some federal states, employees are on an equal footing with public officials .
Baden-Württemberg
The voluntary police service in Baden-Württemberg was introduced in May 1963. On December 31, 2019, it had 601 citizens. His tasks usually include the security and monitoring of road traffic, the security of buildings and systems, the motor vehicle service, the telecommunications service and similar technical services as well as the patrol service. Since the beginning of 1998 the voluntary police service has also been used in the area of local crime prevention.
The service was in progress from 2013 to 2016 after the green-red coalition that came into office in May 2011 decided to dissolve it in the medium term. The budget (2.2 million euros annually) for the voluntary police service was frozen, recruitment was terminated, and funds freed up were reallocated to full-time workers. These measures were heavily criticized by the CDU opposition. The green-black government coalition, which came into office in 2016, wants “to create a new basis for the deployment of police volunteers as part of an overall concept for safe public spaces. Until then, the existing voluntary police service will be continued at its current level. "
The training comprises two weeks for the basic training and a subsequent introductory assignment and takes place in a police school of the riot police or at the deployment services (usually the police headquarters). The further training takes place individually at the respective departments (e.g. districts) and collectively in further training.
The members of the voluntary police service have the position of a police officer in terms of the police law of Baden-Württemberg when they perform their duties towards the citizen. This means that they can carry out all measures under police law such as seizures, police seizures, and searches. Furthermore, they are therefore also entitled to exercise police coercion, including direct coercion.
You are subject to the principle of legality (compulsory prosecution), but without being the investigator of the public prosecutor's office .
When performing their duties, they wear the same police uniform with the same sleeve badge as the full-time members of the police and carry essentially the same equipment with them, for example handcuffs , an irritant spray device and BOS radio . The now outdated Walther P5 is still used as a service weapon . In contrast, the full-time police officers run the modern HK P2000 . Slanted green or blue bars depending on the length of service are provided as rank badges (one bar for every five years of service). As a rule, they perform their duties with a full-time police officer and are authorized to drive company vehicles, such as patrol cars .
| year | Strength | year | Strength | year | Strength | year | Strength |
|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|
| 1963 | ? | 1978 | 3,608 | 1993 | 1,337 | 2008 | 1,201 |
| 1964 | ? | 1979 | 3,437 | 1994 | 1,219 | 2009 | 1,215 |
| 1965 | 4,196 | 1980 | 3,272 | 1995 | 1,255 | 2010 | 1,246 |
| 1966 | 4,363 | 1981 | 3,153 | 1996 | 1,215 | 2011 | 1,175 |
| 1967 | 4,448 | 1982 | 2,956 | 1997 | 1,176 | 2012 | 1,041 |
| 1968 | 4,367 | 1983 | 2,663 | 1998 | 1,294 | 2013 | 865 |
| 1969 | 4,276 | 1984 | 2,460 | 1999 | 1,246 | 2014 | 763 |
| 1970 | 4,317 | 1985 | 2,285 | 2000 | 1,228 | 2015 | 744 |
| 1971 | 4.215 | 1986 | 2.134 | 2001 | 1,184 | 2016 | 708 |
| 1972 | 4,095 | 1987 | 1,974 | 2002 | 1,197 | 2017 | 673 |
| 1973 | 4,020 | 1988 | 1.913 | 2003 | 1,189 | 2018 | 640 |
| 1974 | 3,961 | 1989 | 1,840 | 2004 | 1,171 | 2019 | 601 |
| 1975 | 3,906 | 1990 | 1,679 | 2005 | 1,139 | ||
| 1976 | 3,702 | 1991 | 1,624 | 2006 | 1,164 | ||
| 1977 | 3,529 | 1992 | 1,490 | 2007 | 1,145 |
Bavaria
The security guard is subordinate to the Bavarian police , but does not belong to them. The Security Guard Act came into effect on December 31, 1996 after a three-year pilot test in Nuremberg , Ingolstadt and Deggendorf had proven successful. In addition to the authority to arrest anyone after a crime, members of the security guard have the right to stop people, question them and determine their personal details , should this be necessary to avert danger ( identification ). In addition, you can issue referrals . However, their measures cannot be enforced with immediate coercion .
The ideals of the security guard are moving away from terms such as auxiliary police and vigilante groups , since they were formed to prevent uncontrolled civil associations . It offers citizens the opportunity to actively support the Bavarian police without working as a law enforcement officer .
The security guard is mainly used in areas where there is a risk of crime, but not so high that police officers have to be on site at all times. She works primarily in larger housing estates, public facilities and near facilities where the rate of vandalism is high.
Members of the security guard are usually out and about on foot or by bike and can reach the next police patrol via radio in the event of suspicious or dangerous incidents . For self-protection, they are equipped with an irritant spray device ( CS gas ), among other things .
The people are out and about in civil clothing and wear a security guard ID with a photo on their left chest as well as a light green armband with the Bavarian state coat of arms and the retroreflective inscription " Sicherheitswacht " or a dark blue blouson with retroreflective inscription and the Bavarian state coat of arms.
The security watch can now be found at 118 locations, including a. used in Munich , Straubing , Nuremberg , Rosenheim, Neumarkt, Bayreuth , Regensburg , Ingolstadt, Deggendorf, Günzburg , Amberg , Sulzbach-Rosenberg , Schwandorf , Cham and Weiden . Since 2010, it has also been possible to set up a security guard in municipalities with fewer than 20,000 inhabitants.
Hesse
The voluntary police service in Hesse was introduced in October 2000 after the passing of the law for active citizen participation to strengthen internal security (Hessian Volunteer Police Service Act - HFPG) . This was preceded by a trial phase in the cities of Marburg , Wiesbaden , Offenbach am Main and Fulda , the voluntary police service was then introduced across Hesse and has now been set up in 103 cities and municipalities nationwide with a staff of around 400 police helpers. To set up a voluntary police service, municipalities must conclude a coordination agreement with the State of Hesse. The city of Frankfurt am Main only set up a voluntary police service on January 1, 2007. The nationwide share of women is around 30 percent.
The tasks of the voluntary police service in Hesse consist mainly of providing assistance and support. The members take on activities such as monitoring traffic, are present at public festivals and parades and otherwise serve to prevent criminal offenses and administrative offenses.
In addition to the self-defense and emergency aid rights, the members also have some rights to avert danger according to the Hessian police law. This includes the questioning, identification and the possibility of issuing a dismissal.
The voluntary police service is on foot. The equipment varies depending on the city, mostly it consists of pepper spray for defense and cell phones to call the police station.
The training of the forces is carried out by officers of the Hessian police and takes a period of 50 hours, it is completed with the delivery of a certificate and an ID card. The employees receive an expense allowance of a maximum of 7.00 euros per hour.
Admission to the voluntary police service can only take place between the ages of 18 and 65. Furthermore, the applicant must be suitable in terms of health, stand up for the free and democratic basic order and have a school leaving certificate or a completed apprenticeship. In addition, the candidate must not have an entry in the police clearance certificate and must appear suitable in terms of overall personality.
Uniforms: The police officers wear normal police uniforms (instead of peaked caps, however, base caps) with the inscription and badge "Voluntary Police Service".
Saxony
The Saxon Security Guard was established on April 1, 1998. In 1999 the trial phase was completed and the security guard was established nationwide. There are 386 members of the security guard on duty (as of January 2020).
As in other countries, the tasks of the security watch mainly include preventive security patrols with the aim of increasing the perceived security. For this purpose, the security guard is on the move in the area of public transport, publicly accessible buildings such as shopping centers and in large housing estates.
The members of the security guard can make use of their self-defense rights. They have been given additional powers to do this. You are authorized to question people and determine their identity. Furthermore, the expulsion and the guarantee for the protection of private rights are included in the powers.
The Saxon security guard can be recognized by green or blue jackets or shirts / blouses with the label "Saxon Security Guard", the members of the security guard are also equipped with BOS radio and wear a pepper spray to ward off attacks. In addition, they can identify themselves with an ID card. You are usually on foot.
The training takes place in the responsible police departments. It covers a period of at least 50 hours and ends with a final discussion. The training effort is rewarded once at 154 euros. Further training is organized by the police stations to which the employee is assigned. Later on, the employee receives an expense allowance of 6.00 euros per hour (a maximum of 40 hours a month).
As in Hessen, admission to the security watch is only possible if you are fit for health. Employment is possible between the ages of 18 and 60; the applicant must have a school leaving certificate or completed vocational training and be of good repute . Furthermore, he must have successfully completed the training and further education and stand up for the free-democratic basic order at all times.
Former volunteer services
Berlin
The Voluntary Police Reserve existed in (West) Berlin from 1961 to 2002. This was founded in response to the establishment of factory combat groups in East Berlin . Your task in the early days was to support the full-time police force in an attack on the city or in political unrest. The main task was to protect property , and after the east-west conflict had eased , also to monitor traffic. The relatives wore blue uniforms and were armed with infantry ( pistol , rifle , machine gun , hand grenades ). In the 1990s there were discussions about the police reserve, as one fifth of relatives were criminals or active in right-wing extremist circles. The first reaction was the renaming to Voluntary Police Service and in 2002 it was finally dissolved. As early as 2003, the CDU demanded the establishment of a new voluntary police service, but so far it has not been able to assert itself.
Turkey
→ Main article: Bekçi
In Turkey there was a system of neighborhood guards from 1914 to 2008 with the self-name Bekci . From 2016, the AKP-led Turkish government reintroduced the neighborhood watch service. The more than 20,000 auxiliary police officers are paid, armed and subordinate to the Ministry of the Interior.
See also
Web links
- Hessen : Voluntary police service of the Hessian police
- Bavaria : The Bavarian Security Guard
- Saxony : The Saxon Security Guard
- Baden-Württemberg : Voluntary police service in Baden-Württemberg
- Volunteer police officers. Police services, security guards and security partners of Norbert Pütter and Martina Kant (Bürgerrechte & Polizei / CILIP 66 No. 2/2000)
Individual evidence
- ↑ http://bravors.brandenburg.de/de/verwaltungsrechte-216185
- ↑ a b Freedom of Information Requests - FragDenStaat. Retrieved February 25, 2020 .
- ^ Coalition agreement between BÜNDNIS 90 / DIE GRÜNEN and the SPD Baden-Württemberg: Baden-Württemberg 2011–2016 (pp. 64–65 " Stopping the police downsizing" ) (PDF; 1.3 MB)
- ↑ Clear commitment of the CDU parliamentary group to voluntary police service! from January 10, 2013, accessed on May 22, 2013 ( Memento of the original from January 18, 2016 in the Internet Archive ) Info: The archive link was inserted automatically and has not yet been checked. Please check the original and archive link according to the instructions and then remove this notice.
- ↑ Clear commitment to voluntary police service! ( Memento of the original from March 13, 2016 in the Internet Archive ) Info: The archive link was inserted automatically and has not yet been checked. Please check the original and archive link according to the instructions and then remove this notice. April 17, 2013, accessed May 22, 2013
- ↑ Coalition agreement between BÜNDNIS 90 / DIE GRÜNEN and CDU 2016-2021, section “CITIZENS-CLOSE POLICE - BRIDGE TO CIVIL SOCIETY”, p. 60
- ↑ Michael Schwarz: Stuttgart: Dispute in the state government: Voluntary police service with or without a weapon? April 22, 2018, accessed February 23, 2020 .
- ↑ http://www.polizei.bayern.de/wir/sicherheitswacht/index.html/300
- ↑ Voluntary Police Service | Hessian Ministry of the Interior and for Sport. Retrieved July 2, 2019 .
- ↑ mdr.de: Questions and answers on the Saxon Security Guard | MDR.DE. Retrieved June 21, 2020 .
- ↑ Saxon Security Guard now also in blue ( memento of the original from April 5, 2012 in the Internet Archive ) Info: The archive link has been inserted automatically and has not yet been checked. Please check the original and archive link according to the instructions and then remove this notice.
- ↑ CDU wants to reintroduce vigilante groups in Berlin from February 28, 2011, accessed on May 22, 2013
