Hamburg police scandal

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In 1994 , allegations of unlawful police violence became known in Hamburg , initially only within the police force . When the then Interior Senator Werner Hackmann became aware of these allegations, he resigned from his office. The allegations and the resignation are described as the Hamburg police scandal.

course

The Hamburg police officer (with the police for 17 years) and later key witness , Uwe Chrobok reported in 1993 to his instructors in the state police school of abuse, mainly black men, by police officers from Police Commissioner 11 in Hamburg-St. George . For example, six men are said to have been forced to undress in a collecting cell, then a policeman is said to have sprayed tear gas into the cell and then locked the door. Another man had to strip naked and was then sprayed with bug spray. Other allegations were the extensive and therefore dangerous application of disinfectant to the skin or slapping a man.

In over a hundred cases, foreigners were simply driven to the city limits and abandoned there during the night . Two alleged mock executions (one in the winter of 1992, the other in 1993) have also been reported. Another alleged mock execution in February 1995 was reported by the Ghanaian Joel Boateng to Panorama magazine in December 1995 : he had been driven to the free port by two police officers , where he was allegedly sexually abused and mock execution. An officer from Station 34 said many reports said prisoners stumbled across the threshold of the station, fell, and were seriously injured in the process. A newspaper dealer (Klaus Lange) and a foreigner are also said to have been beaten up. Dialle D. was beaten up on January 15, 1994 by two off duty police officers. In addition, there were allegations of more than 60 cases of deprivation of liberty and 20 cases of mistreatment in the room. In connection with the Hamburg police scandal, the injury of Oliver Neß on May 30, 1994 by police officers is mentioned. Neß also reported on the police scandal for Panorama

In January 1994, the State Police School informed the Hamburg police of the allegations. The head of the Hamburg Police School reported to his superiors: "that there are deficits in social behavior which, in terms of number and scope, give rise to serious concern". In an attachment to the letter, nine trainers report on: "'Massive and systematic attempts at intimidation (up to psychological terrorism)' against colleagues as well as 'criminally relevant events such as insults, deprivation of liberty, bodily harm in office'." Inhuman and inhumane behavior towards people with little complaint power. "The leadership is apparently not supposed to have done anything. The key witness Uwe Chrobok is said to have personally informed the police director Richard Peters in February 1994 about the alleged abuse. The conversation should have remained without consequences. Richard Peters denied these statements in this form. An article in the time from 1995 states: "Peters confirmed the meeting, but denied having heard from the officials more than vague suggestions. In addition, all searches on Wache 11 had not produced any evidence of criminal offenses. Peters considers the incidents described now to be 'unimaginable'. 'A lot is told, including stupid things.' ” Manfred Bienert , head of the state police school, is said to have informed the“ police top ”on March 16. Panorama showed a letter from the head of the state police school to the state police director, Heinz Krappen , and the head of the state criminal investigation office , Wolfgang Sielaff , regarding the allegations, which was dated April 5, 1994; The Berliner Zeitung also wrote that Bienert passed on the information in April 1994. Krappen and Sielaff "[...] are said to have not passed on [these] allegations against xenophobic police officers of Guard 11 to the politically responsible of the superior interior authority for months." The public prosecutor was also not informed; Krappen and Sielaff are said to have clarified the allegations internally. On September 12, 1994, the reports became known to the Interior Senator Werner Hackmann; he resigned on the same day because of the allegations.

Criminal and disciplinary consequences

On September 13, 1994 , Mayor Henning Voscherau or Interior Councilor Dirk Reimers suspended a police train (with 27 men) and disbanded the unit. The Hamburg public prosecutor's office investigated "against 'a large number [80] of police officers'" for " bodily harm , coercion and deprivation of liberty ". Five police officers were charged with assault in office . Two policemen were supposed to be given orders for coercion and deprivation of liberty. The chief inspector Hermann B. was acquitted by magistrate Ronald Schill , since his testimony contrasts with Chrobok's testimony and, in case of doubt , would have to be decided in favor of the defendant . The public prosecutor appealed , where B. was also acquitted by the Hamburg district court . The court expressed doubts about Chrobok's credibility. The spokesman for the public prosecutor's office, Rüdiger Bagger, announced a revision before the higher regional court. The police officer Andreas F. was sentenced to a fine of 700 DM in the first instance for slapping a dealer in the face . In the proceedings that followed, the fine was set at 3,000 DM. For the mistreatment of Dialle D., the police officers were sentenced to a fine of 90 daily rates of 60 DM each for bodily harm. The key witness Chrobok was investigated for frustrating punishment in office. The public prosecutor's office brought charges against the police director Peters , also on suspicion of obstruction of punishment in office.

Political Consequences

In addition to the aforementioned resignation of Hackmann, there were several other official duties. The Interior Councilor Dirk Reimers had to give up his office on September 16, 1994; the state police director Heinz Krappen and a directorate at the beginning of March 1995. Peters was transferred. In addition, the Hamburg police scandal led to the parliamentary investigation committee “Hamburg Police” , which worked until 1996 and presented a 1200-page final report with many suggestions for improvement, such as a new management concept.

additional

Individual evidence

  1. ↑ a b c d e f g h Panorama of December 21, 1995. Panorama , December 21, 1995, accessed on January 27, 2016 .
  2. ↑ Key witness threatened . In: Berliner Zeitung , February 9, 1996
  3. ↑ a b c d e f g h i j k l Matthias Geis: Who should keep the law . In: Die Zeit , No. 11/1995
  4. ↑ a b c d e f g h i j k l m n o p q r Panorama of March 02, 1995. Panorama , March 2, 1995, accessed on January 27, 2016 .
  5. ↑ a b c d e f g Thomas Wolgast: Mock executions in the Hamburg police station . In: Berliner Zeitung , March 3, 1995
  6. ↑ a b c d e New allegations in the police scandal. focus , March 6, 1995, accessed January 27, 2016 .
  7. ↑ a b c d e f Police scandal acquittal for Commissioner B. Hamburger Morgenpost , September 26, 1998, accessed on January 28, 2016 .
  8. ↑ a b c d e f Ira von Mellenthin : The lessons from the police scandal . In: Die Welt , March 5, 2001
  9. ↑ a b c d embellished protocols . In: Der Spiegel . No. 13 , 1995 ( online ).
  10. ↑ Carsten Holm: Ready for cabaret . In: Der Spiegel special . 1999 ( spiegel.de [accessed February 1, 2016]).
  11. ↑ a b c d e Black Hordes . In: Der Spiegel . No. 38 , 1994 ( online ).
  12. ↑ a b c d Ludwig Rademacher: "... from hearsay". Focus , September 19, 1994, accessed January 29, 2016 .
  13. ↑ a b c The Hamburg tabloid press and the police . In: Die Zeit , No. 34/1996
  14. ↑ Key witness declared implausible - appeal announced - “Richter Merciless” acquits controversial police officers. Hamburger Morgenpost , February 1, 1997, accessed on January 27, 2016 .
  15. ↑ Worse than had long been feared . In: Die Zeit , No. 38/1994
  16. ^ Accusation against Richard Peters: thwarting of punishment in office charges against police director. Hamburger Morgenpost , January 13, 1997, accessed on September 16, 2017 .
  17. ^ Hamburg: Attack on a police lawyer . In: Berliner Zeitung , September 16, 1994