NCJ Number
196919
Journal
Crime & Justice International Volume: 18 Issue: 61 Dated: April 2002 Pages: 13-14
Date Published
April 2002
Length
2 pages
Annotation
This article recounts the recent changes in Germany’s law enforcement activities in response to the September 11th terrorist attacks in the United States.
Abstract
The author details the legislative changes that have taken place in Germany since September 11, 2001. These changes have broadened the investigative powers of the police system in its quest to squelch terrorism. The article begins by explaining that in post-Nazi Germany, the police system was decentralized so that each of the 16 States controlled their own police force while domestic intelligence gathering became the duty of the Federal Office for the Prevention of the Constitution. Recent legislation has changed investigative priorities and organization. Federal police powers have been broadened to give the Federal police overriding power over the State police forces. Moreover, the newly enacted anti-terrorism reforms have allowed law enforcement agencies to obtain information about suspected terrorists from financial institutions, telecommunications companies, and airlines. The author recounts how these changes have resulted in arrests and warrants for numerous suspected terrorists operating within Germany. 7 References