There are now police identification requirements in twelve federal states.
Some still resist it.
Germany's lax handling of unlawful police violence was already criticized by the European Court of Human Rights in 2017.
At that time, the judges recalled a simple finding: those who cannot be identified remain unpunished.
To date, German public prosecutors have only filed charges in a fraction of cases involving unlawful police violence.
A lack of identifiability is not always decisive here, but it can be tackled without further ado.
Blanket objections
The arguments against labeling requirements are not convincing.
It was the same in the case of a Brandenburg police officer who has now failed before the Federal Constitutional Court.
In their brief ruling, the judges dismiss the general claim that identifiable police officers are at greater risk.
Even more general is the argument that opponents of a labeling requirement put forward most often.
They talk about "general suspicion" that police officers would be exposed to.
But the opposite is the case.
Such a suspicion is nurtured by those who have the monopoly on the use of force but resist control.
The rule of law need not fear transparency.