Corona pandemic: insults, threats, spitting - attacks on police officers are increasing

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According to union leader Sabrina Kunz, the attacks on police officers in Rhineland-Palatinate have continued to increase in the course of the pandemic.

"That goes from insulting speeches to the threat of spitting up to the spitting itself," said the state chairman of the police union (GdP).

As an occasion, it is enough to tell someone in the pedestrian zone to wear the mask.

“It comes from all social groups,” reported Kunz.

"In public we no longer have a situation that could be compared to the lockdown in spring, when there was hardly any crime and the streets were empty." Despite the renewed hard lockdown, more people are on the road and many are nervous, impatient and frustrated increased.

“We have to turn our heads for dissatisfaction.

The pandemic made that much worse. ”Then there is the so-called lateral thinker scene.

"It's slowly getting on the nerves of our colleagues, especially the riot police and the patrol service."

The debate in the summer about racism allegations within the police also had an impact and unsettled parts of the population, as the police felt.

“Fortunately, people still trust us.

We have to build on that. ”The GdP continues to advocate a separate national study on the subject.

"A data basis would have to be created in order to objectify the discussion." In federalism, equipment, salaries and provisions are different, so that it is necessary to look carefully at which instruments exist and how they work.

In the 2021 budget, an independent research center is also planned for the Police College.

Corona unreported number among police officers is high

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At the same time, the new corona infections also increased in the police, said Kunz.

“But our functionality is not yet impaired.” However, the number of unreported cases is probably relatively high among the comparatively young and physically fit staff.

Kunz demanded that all police officers in contact with people with enough FFP2 masks be equipped with the appropriate certificate and that they be informed about the risks of wearing or not wearing them.

"So far, only the operative staff have been equipped with these masks."

In the priority list of vaccinations, Kunz sees an ambiguity that needs to be cleared up.

"According to our interpretation, the police officers who do service to people, such as on patrol duty and the emergency services in group two and everyone else in group three." and involved the police medical service, said Kunz.

Not enough police officers

Despite a record number of police officers, the country still had a shortage of jobs.

"The goal of 10,000 full-time employees still applies, but it cannot be achieved from one year to the next," said Kunz.

In the 2021 budget, however, another 580 hires are planned.

The GdP calls for these recruitment figures to be retained in the years to come.

It will take a few years for the increase to be noticeable everywhere.

The GdP is concerned about the criminal police because areas of activity such as the fight against right-wing extremism, sexual violence against children and cybercrime have grown significantly in recent years and there are not enough applicants for specialized areas everywhere.

It is particularly difficult for IT specialists as a public service to compete with the private sector.