The Federal Chairman of the German Police Union, Rainer Wendt. Photo: dpa
The Federal Chairman of the German Police Union, Rainer Wendt. Photo: dpa
Rainer Wendt, the president of the German police union, considers the study of the University of Bochum to this country presumably 12.000 cases of unjustified police force per year not serious. "This does not seem to me to be serious," said Wendt, the passer-by New Press.
"This so-called study is about open interviews on the Internet. Everyone was able to participate and claim to be the victim of illegal police force."Wendt opposes the interpretation of the figures. From this online survey and its interpretation, it was then concluded t hat the cases had significantly increased and was based on a five-time higher dark number,"he recommends for an accurate examination of the quality of the data collected.
Wendt explained that anyone could claim to have been the victim of illegal police force." Whether or not the use of police force is illegal police force is not decided at Bochum University, but by an independent judiciary."
Wendt: "An entire profession is discredited"
The police union speaks of a "statement by the authors of this so-called study" regarding the statement that less than two percent of cases of suspected police violence would come to trial and would end up with a conviction less than one percent. How the researchers came to these results, they have so far left them open. It discredits an entire profession. There is no evidence for these allegations."Wendt points out the opposite: the number of acts of violence against the police and the fire brigade increases significantly each year." And despite the drastic increase in attacks on the police, the task force still uses their firearms very rarely. The police are trying to master the violence by other means."
The interview in the text:
A study by the University of Bochum concludes that unjustified police violence in this country has clearly increased. There is talk of 12,000-year-old alleged illegal attacks. How do you evaluate these results? Rainer Wendt: This so-called study is about open interviews on the Internet. Ada was able to participate and claim to be the victim of illegal police force. From this online survey and its interpretation, it was then concluded t hat the number of cases had increased significantly and was based on a five-fold higher figure of darkness. I don't think this is serious. The quality of the data collected must be carefully checked. In what cases has it brought criminal proceedings against and to what end has it led? Anyone can claim to have been the victim of illegal police force. Whether or not the use of police force is illegal police force is not decided at Bochum University, but by an independent judiciary. After all, we live in a constitutional state.
According to the study, less than two percent of cases of suspected police violence are brought to justice. Less than a percentage end with a conviction. Is there a Lex police force and special mercy? Wendt: This too is just a claim made by the authors of this so-called study. How they arrive at these results so far leaves them open. It discredits an entire profession. There is no evidence to support these allegations. On the contrary, violence against the police is on the increase, and the number of acts of violence against the police and the fire brigade is increasing considerably each year. And despite the drastic increase in attacks on the police, the task force still uses their firearms very rarely. The police are trying to control the violence by other means.
But the number of criminal proceedings and convictions is unusually small...Wendt: My experience is quite different. The prosecutors know that they are being watched very closely by a critical public and the media. This is also why it is being investigated very carefully. In a legal dispute, there are also ways of proceeding against the prosecution's decision. There's the employment report. A prosecution procedure can be used to determine in court whether the prosecution has to press charges.
So unjustified accusations against the police and the judiciary? Wendt: On the basis of such surveys, to put the police and justice in check must provoke the opposition of politicians. The interior ministers of the federation and countries should defend themselves against the police. They usually do that, too. Police and prosecutors are to be discredited from a political point of view. The Greens and the Left also want to enforce a so-called independent police officer who would be elected by the Bundestag. He should then investigate suspected violations and assaults. That would be clearly illegal. In a constitutional state, justice is responsible for this, not politics. Such an agent would not be independent either. It would follow party political expectations.