The police in Germany: An overview

However, the Basic Law provides for originary federal authority in central areas of law enforcement.
This applies in particular to cooperation between the federal and state governments on criminal matters, and to international crime prevention. In addition, the federal level is responsible for maintaining security at the national borders and in rail and air transport. To carry out its tasks, the Federation may legislate and maintain independent police authorities (Article 73 (10) in conjunction with Article 87 (1) of the Basic Law).
Due to this division of authority, Germany has 16 state police forces and two federal law enforcement agencies: the Federal Criminal Police Office (Bundeskriminalamt, or BKA) and the Federal Police (Bundespolizei, or BPOL, formerly called the Bundesgrenzschutz, or BGS). Both lie within the remit of the Federal Ministry of the Interior.

The Federal Criminal Police Office: The federal criminal investigative agency

The Federal Criminal Police Office, with offices in Berlin and Wiesbaden and approx. 5,000 staff in various locations, is Germany’s central agency for criminal investigation. Its tasks are derived from the Basic Law and the Act on the Bundeskriminalamt and Cooperation between Federal and State Authorities in Criminal Police Matters (BKAG). These tasks can be grouped into the following areas of concentration: its function as a central agency; investigation; protection and security; and international cooperation.

The Federal Police (BPOL)

Within the system of internal security in the Federal Republic of Germany, the Federal Police carry out a wide variety of law enforcement tasks, in particular in the fields of border protection, railway policing and aviation security, as assigned by the Basic Law and federal legislation. The Federal Police force has around 40,000 staff, including 32,000 highly trained law enforcement officers.

Thanks to its special mission, especially at Germany’s external borders, the Federal Police already have extensive experience in the area of international cooperation. Such experience is increasingly important for Europe’s internal security, and the Federal Police also participate in major projects involving international cooperation.

Directorate-General ÖS: Public Security

Within the Federal Ministry of the Interior, Directorate-General ÖS comprises the fields of police affairs, counter-terrorism and protection of the Constitution. It is responsible for overseeing the Federal Criminal Police Office and the Federal Office for the Protection of the Constitution (Bundesamt für Verfassungsschutz, BfV). The directorate-general analyses issues related to combating crime and develops strategies and draft legislation to improve crime prevention and prosecution.
Directorate-General ÖS is also home to the office for the Standing Conference of Interior Ministers (IMK). The IMK is the central body for coordinating federal and state interior policy. Internal security issues are dealt with particularly in IMK Working Group II, where the Director-General represents federal interests. A number of sub-working groups focused on specific topics report to the working group, as does the working group of heads of the federal and state criminal police offices (AG Kripo).
Within Directorate-General KM: Crisis Management and Civil Protection, the Communications, Command and Control Centre makes sure that the Federal Ministry of the Interior is constantly ready to respond and keeps high-ranking ministry officials informed of the latest events, in particular outside regular office hours.