German Parliament Police

German Parliament Police Polizei beim Deutschen Bundestag
Common name	Parlamentspolizei
Abbreviation	Polizei DBT
Agency overview
Formed	April 1950
Preceding agency	Hausinspektion der Verwaltung des Deutschen Bundestags (1994)
Jurisdictional structure
Operations jurisdiction	Germany
Legal jurisdiction	German Parliament
Governing body	President of the Bundestag
Constituting instrument	Article 40, 2 Grundgesetz
Operational structure
Headquarters	Berlin
Website
bundestag.de (German)

Polizei beim Deutschen Bundestag (English: Police at the German Bundestag), also known as Parlamentspolizei or Bundestagspolizei,[1][2] is a separate police force for the premises of the Bundestag (the German parliament's lower house) in Berlin. The police force acts on behalf of the President of the Bundestag in their capacity as a law enforcement power for these premises.[3]

History

In April 1950 the Hausinspektion der Verwaltung des Deutschen Bundestags (English: House Inspectorate of the Administration of the German Parliament) was established to ensure the rule of law on the premises of the Bundestag in Bonn. Ranks differed considerably from that of other German police forces of the time. In 1994 it was renamed to its current name and ranks became similar to other police forces.

Legal basis

According to Article 40, 2 of the German constitution only the President of the Bundestag may exercise police powers within the Bundestag's premises. Therefore a special police service independent from the executive power was necessary. The Bundespolizeibeamtengesetz (English: Federal Police Officer Act) is applicable for all law enforcement officers of the Parliament Police.

Duties

The police officers are partially recruited from state or federal police agencies. Due to a recruitment crisis across all German police forces, the force started to train their own candidates in 2013.[4] This training is provided in collaboration with the German Federal Police. The role of German Parliament Police officers includes the vetting of visitors to the Bundestag, and removal of intruders.[1][2]

Since 2018 they wear a uniform, which is similar to the one worn by the German Federal Police, but with their own patch, showing the eagle of the Bundestag and "Polizei" written above it.[5]

Unlike any other police officers, officers of the Parliament Police are not empowered to assist Public Prosecutors in investigating crimes; they require explicit permission of the President of the Bundestag for such a role.

See also

• Security police

Notes

1. "According to Detlef Lenz, member of the Bundestag police force, the vetting process for visitors to the parliament has also changed over the decades, especially after the rise of the Red Army Faction in the late 1960s and early 1970s, and after ..." (Barnstone 2005, p. 84)
2. "...Ruin der Kleinen Bauern AG Bauernblatt (Ruin for small farmers newsletter). He, along with other intruders, was taken by members of the Bundestag police unit from the gallery to an interrogation room to have his particulars noted." (UK House of Lords 1985, p. 88)
3. German Bundestag staff 2010, Administration.
4. "Ausbildung bei der Polizei beim Deutschen Bundestag". Deutscher Bundestag.
5. "Deutscher Bundestag - Neue Uniformen für die Parlamentspolizei des Deutschen Bundestages".

References

• Barnstone, Deborah Ascher (2005), The transparent state: architecture and politics in postwar Germany, p. 84
• UK House of Lords (1985), Sessional papers printed by order of the House of Lords: Minutes of proceedings ... Public Bills ... Reports from committees ... Miscellaneous, vol. 12, p. 88
• German Bundestag staff (3 June 2010), Administration of the German Bundestag, German Bundestag