Germany sounds the alarm: hundreds of police officers embrace extremist beliefs

Germany is raising the alarm because of the presence of hundreds of police officers who adhere to far-right beliefs and believe in conspiracy theories. According to German media, at least four hundred officers are already being tried for their extremist views. “Two years ago, there were still three hundred disciplinary measures in progress,” says German correspondent Dirk Marseille.

The Interior Minister of North Rhine-Westphalia, Herbert Reuel, has also been vocal about abuses within the police. “Police officers who do not support the Constitution, but hold extremist views, pose a great danger to democracy and the rule of law.” He also criticizes Uli Grotsch, National Police Commissioner in the German Bundestag. “We live in a time when right-wing extremists are deliberately trying to destabilize the police,” he warns. “The danger is greater than ever. For the whole country. And therefore also for the police.

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Reporter Dirk Marseille finds it remarkable that there are now four hundred ongoing cases. “Two years ago, there were three hundred disciplinary proceedings ongoing. Hence four states were not included in the study. (…). The numbers are increasing.” According to him, investigations show, among other things, that officers no longer support the rule of law in Germany. “This is a prerequisite for being an agent.”

The rise of the Alternative for Germany party

Grotsch also attributes the rise of extremist views among officers to the rise of the radical Alternative for Germany (AfD) party. In opinion polls, this party is now the second largest party in Germany. Marseille explains that there is of course a greater chance that this type of person will work in the police. It is suspected that the problem is much larger than is currently apparent.

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This is because some East German states were not included in the study. In these states, the Alternative for Germany party is the largest party in opinion polls. “You can safely assume that there will also be this kind of suspicious cases in those states.” According to Marseille, “Berlin has woken up” to this news. In politics, it is also hoped that officers suspected of holding far-right views will be removed from their posts.