NCJ Number
53762
Journal
Police Studies Volume: 1 Issue: 4 Dated: (DECEMBER 1978) Pages: 53-61
Date Published
1978
Length
9 pages
Annotation
THE APPROACH TAKEN BY POLICE IN WEST GERMANY TO PROTECT PERSONS AND FACILITIES AT RISK OF HARM FROM TERRORISTS IS DESCRIBED.
Abstract
IT HAS BEEN ESTIMATED THAT AT LEAST 10 PERCENT OF THE ENTIRE POLICE FORCE OF THE FEDERAL REPUBLIC OF GERMANY IS ENGAGED IN PROTECTIVE AND ANTITERRORIST DUTIES, INCLUDING THE CONTINUAL RECONNAISSANCE OF PERSONS AND INSTALLATIONS AT RISK OF ATTACK, PROVISION OF INFORMATION TO PERSONS AT RISK, THE PLANNING AND EXECUTION OF PROTECTIVE MEASURES, RECOGNITION OF INCIPIENT TERRORIST ACTIVITY WITH A VIEW TO EARLY INTERVENTION, AND THE GATHERING OF INFORMATION ON EXPERIENCES WITH TERRORISTS FOR FUTURE APPLICATION. PROTECTION OPERATIONS ARE BASED ON A THREE-LEVEL SCALE USED TO ASSESS THE EXTENT OF PERIL AND THE LIKELIHOOD OF ATTACK FOR EACH CITIZEN CONSIDERED AT RISK. THERE IS ALSO A SYSTEM OF SECURITY GRADINGS, WHICH IS USED TO DETERMINE THE LEVEL OF PROTECTION REQUIRED ON THE OCCASION OF STATE VISITS AND SIMILAR EVENTS. MECHANISMS THROUGH WHICH GERMANY'S SEVERAL NATIONAL AND STATE POLICE FORCES COORDINATE THEIR ANTITERRORIST AND PROTECTIVE ACTIVITIES ARE OUTLINED, AND THE ORGANIZATION AND EXECUTION OF PROTECTIVE DUTIES AT THE AGENCY LEVEL ARE DESCRIBED. THE DUTIES PERFORMED AND PROBLEMS ENCOUNTERED BY POLICE OFFICERS ASSIGNED TO PROTECTIVE DUTY ARE DISCUSSED AND ILLUSTRATED IN CASE STUDIES. POLICE MANPOWER SHORTAGES AND OTHER POTENTIAL AND EXISTING PROBLEMS ASSOCIATED WITH THE NEED TO ASSIGN LARGE NUMBERS OF POLICE TO PROTECTIVE DUTIES ARE CONSIDERED. ONE MEANS OF ADDRESSING THE MANPOWER PROBLEM--THE TRAINING AND DEPLOYMENT OF CIVILIANS TO PROTECT INSTALLATIONS IN BERLIN AND HAMBURG--IS DESCRIBED. (LKM)