German Parliament Police

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

German Parliament Police
Polizei beim Deutschen Bundestag
Common nameParlamentspolizei
AbbreviationPolizei DBT
Agency overview
FormedApril 1950
Preceding agency
  • Hausinspektion der Verwaltung des Deutschen Bundestags (1994)
Jurisdictional structure
Operations jurisdictionGermany
Legal jurisdictionGerman Parliament
Governing bodyPresident of the Bundestag
Constituting instrument
Operational structure
HeadquartersBerlin
Website
bundestag.de (German)

History

In April 1950 as 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.

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 recruited from state or federal police agencies. Their role includes the vetting of visitors to the Bundestag, and removal of intruders.[1][2] They usually do not wear police uniforms, but have a police logo affixed to their plain clothes.

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

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.

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, 12, p. 88
  • German Bundestag staff (3 June 2010), Administration of the German Bundestag, German Bundestag


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