Arrest unit

BFE units are generally part of the Bereitschaftspolizei police support groups and their structure may vary between the different state police forces. A sample structure may look like this:

• Command: four officers
• Technical support: four officers
• Securing evidence: six officers
• Six arrest teams: five officers per team

As a consequence from the terrorist attacks in Paris 2015, each of the five BFE units of the Federal Police was tasked with enhancing one of its squads to a BFE+ unit. The purpose of the BFE+ units is to close the gap between the regular BFE units and the GSG9, thus reducing the response time and workload for the GSG9 or the SEK units.

BFE+ personnel are trained in a 6-week course by the GSG9 in special tactics and skills which may be required to deal with treats similar to the Charlie Hebdo attack or the November 2015 Paris attacks.[3]

Notable operations of BFE+ include high risk arrests in the course of investigations against a Syrian human trafficking network[4] or riot control during the 2017 G20 Hamburg summit.[5]

• Riot control
• Providing assistance on high-risk warrants
• Obtaining evidence of criminal acts during large events such as soccer games or demonstrations

The BFE have favoured the Mercedes-Benz Sprinter and Mercedes-Benz Vito.

Uniform of member of an arrest unit of the Bavarian Police.

Due to their duties in dangerous environments, the BFE units are often equipped with special equipment which may include:

• Snatch squad