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Schwerin (dpa / mv) - In the fight against right-wing extremist activities within the police, Interior Minister Torsten Renz (CDU) has decided not to implement an important structural change recommended by external experts.

The special units Mobile Task Force (MEK) and Special Task Force (SEK) would not be assigned to the State Police Office, contrary to the Expert Council.

Renz announced on Thursday in Schwerin that these remained the responsibility of the State Criminal Police Office.

However, serious changes have been initiated in the management structure of the SEK, which are intended to prevent the emergence of right-wing networks.

With the provision of 15 additional staff, the management staff should be relieved of administrative and organizational tasks.

"Our goal is better and more direct staff management," said Renz.

In doing so, they are guided by models that have been tried and tested in the economy, which rely on transparency and participation.

After a test phase of around one year, it should be checked whether the desired effects have occurred.

According to Renz, the new Vice-Head of the State Criminal Police Office, Sibylle Hofmann, was entrusted with the project management.

According to unconfirmed information, the special task force in the country has around 40 members.

In one of the three task forces of the SEK, several officials with right-wing extremist attitudes had apparently been able to establish themselves as a group unnoticed over the years.

The Ministry of the Interior was startled by a raid in June 2019. At that time, a submachine gun and more than 30,000 rounds of ammunition were found on a former SEK member with contacts to the radical prepper scene.

The man has since been sentenced to a suspended sentence for violating the War Weapons Control Act.

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The case shook trust in the special police forces and led to a fundamental change in leadership at the State Criminal Police Office.

In addition, Renz's predecessor, Lorenz Caffier (CDU), set up a group of experts to investigate what was happening and make reform proposals.

Renz wants to follow most of the twelve recommendations for action.

This includes the limitation of the service time in the special task force as a rule to ten years.

In addition, a psychologist should always be present at job interviews in order to be able to better assess the strength of character of applicants.

Political education and an understanding of democracy should take up more space in initial and further training.

Renz said there were technical and practical reasons against the SEK's change to the riot police.

According to his information, a total of eight officials were involved in the right network.

The former Bundeswehr soldiers had belonged to a SEK task force for many years.

Two have left the service, two are currently still suspended and four have been transferred to other departments.

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In its report submitted the previous year, the expert commission also criticized the close cooperation between the Ministry of the Interior and a privately operated shooting range for shooting training for officials.

Caffier, the hunter, had privately acquired a pistol from the operator, who is also said to be close to the right-wing scene, in 2018.

After this purchase became public, Caffier resigned as minister in November 2020.

© dpa-infocom, dpa: 210225-99-594428 / 2