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POLICE USE OF FORCE - WEST GERMANY - PART TWO

NCJ Number
28130
Journal
POLIZEIBLATT, B 37 Issue: 7 Dated: (JULY, 1974) Pages: 109-112
Author(s)
K STEURER
Date Published
1974
Length
4 pages
Annotation
DISCUSSION OF THE USE OF FIREARMS BY THE WEST GERMAN POLICE AS REGULATED BY LAW, WITH PARTICULAR ATTENTION TO THE QUESTION OF THE JUSTIFIABILITY OF DELIBERATE KILLING BY POLICEMEN.
Abstract
DISCUSSED ARE SUCH ASPECTS OF THE QUESTION AS THE USE OF A FIREARM BY A POLICEMAN IN SELF-DEFENSE, THE USE OF A FIREARM TO PREVENT A CRIMINAL OFFENSE, AND THE USE OF A FIREARM ONLY TO RENDER AN OFFENDER UNABLE TO ATTACK OR ESCAPE. SUGGESTIONS ARE OFFERED FOR NEW LEGISLATION REGARDING POLICE USE OF FIREARMS WHICH WOULD BE UNIFORM THROUGHOUT ALL OF WEST GERMANY, BOTH ON THE FEDERAL AND THE STATE LEVEL. SUCH LEGISLATIVE REFORM WOULD MAKE IT POSSIBLE FOR EACH POLICEMAN TO KNOW EXACTLY WHAT ACTIONS HE IS ENTITLED TO TAKE AND WHAT ACTIONS HE IS FORBIDDEN TO TAKE. IT IS MADE CLEAR THAT THE REASON FOR DISCUSSING THE QUESTION OF THE USE OF FIREARMS BY THE POLICE IS THE NEED FOR A CLEARCUT POLICY TO BE FOLLOWED BY POLICEMEN IN CONFRONTATIONS WITH TERRORISTS. FOR PART ONE, SEE NCJ-28158. --IN GERMAN