According to the Interior Ministry, almost half of the new police recruits in the southwest are women. In addition, almost a third of the new employees hired in 2023 would have a migration background.
Z+ (subscription content); Asylum policy: Union interior ministers are calling for “comprehensive rejections” at borders
Z+ (subscription content); Rafael Behr: “Violence against the police is being hysterically scandalized”
Z+ (subscription content); Study by the Federal Ministry of the Interior: Around one in three police officers perceive racism from colleagues while on duty
Overall, almost every third police officer in the Baden-Württemberg police force is a woman; in 2016, only one in five police officers was a woman. “Around 30 years ago there were almost no women in uniform in the Baden-Württemberg police force. The average age of fully trained police officers in 2016 was just over 44 years. “The police are now significantly younger and the average age is under 40 years,” said Interior Minister Thomas Strobl (CDU).
The Baden-Württemberg state police employ around 34,200 people. In addition to the total of around 28,500 police officers – around 3,100 of whom are candidates – around 5,700 other people work in the non-correctional service sector.
Union speaks of lack of experience
The German Police Union (DPolG) points out that the police is a profession with experience. “If the police get younger, that is certainly beneficial in terms of physical performance. However, there is an increasing lack of experience,” says DPolG state chairman Ralf Kusterer. In some areas this is becoming a real problem. “Especially when there are much younger colleagues, and by that I primarily mean those just starting out in their careers and those who have completed their training for less than 4 to 5 years.”
Sometimes a patrol consists of a complete beginner and a colleague who has only completed their training a few months or not even a year ago. A lack of local and personal knowledge could quickly become a danger. “This also applies against the background of increasing disrespect and increasing violence against police officers.” The kind of training that used to exist no longer takes place.
Possible police quality issue
Fighting crime requires strategic and tactical skills, says Kusterer. “We have to be careful not to overtax our young and extremely motivated colleagues.” The increase in the proportion of women presents the police with major challenges. “When hiring, you have to think about the fact that they will hopefully have children and be able to contribute in harmony with family and work.” The reputation of policewomen should not be affected because they are not always available due to parental leave or part-time work.
The increasing physical challenges are often difficult. Additional training and further education in access techniques and the provision of compensation options for physically superior perpetrators are therefore necessary. “We do not have the impression that the Ministry of the Interior has recognized or paid attention to the challenges of a police force that is becoming younger and female.” This becomes clear in the failed training modules with far too few practice opportunities.
Interior Minister happy about many new hires
According to the Interior Ministry, the green-black state government launched the largest recruitment offensive in the history of the Baden-Württemberg state police in the last legislative period. “Since 2016, we have succeeded in recruiting more than 12,000 young people for police training. While there were only 681 and 801 hires in 2014 and 2015, the police hired 1,787 trainee police officers in 2019, more than doubling the number.
“I am pleased that we were once again able to achieve a four-digit number of new hires during the current budget discussions,” says Interior Minister Strobl. If the state parliament approved the double budget for 2025/26, more young people would be employed by the Baden-Württemberg police over a whole decade than ever before in its history. This will further change the police.
© dpa-infocom, dpa:241006-930-252628/1
According to the Interior Ministry, almost half of the new police recruits in the southwest are women. In addition, almost a third of the new employees hired in 2023 would have a migration background.
Overall, almost every third police officer in the Baden-Württemberg police force is a woman; in 2016, only one in five police officers was a woman. “Around 30 years ago there were almost no women in uniform in the Baden-Württemberg police force. The average age of fully trained police officers in 2016 was just over 44 years. “The police are now significantly younger and the average age is under 40 years,” said Interior Minister Thomas Strobl (CDU).
