PressSplit
In view of hybrid threats such as cyber attacks, espionage, disinformation and sabotage, Hamburg’s red-green Senate wants to significantly strengthen civil protection. (Symbolic image) © Julian Stratenschulte/dpa
Hybrid threats are increasing, and the red-green Senate believes that internal and external security can hardly be separated anymore. For them, it is clear that civil protection must be significantly improved.
Hamburg – Hamburg’s red-green Senate wants to completely restructure civil protection in the Hanseatic city and massively upgrade it. “New crisis scenarios require new skills in crisis management,” said Interior Senator Andy Grote (SPD). Hamburg must therefore position itself more broadly and robustly. Specifically, a new department with significantly expanded skills and considerably more staff will be set up. “Since the creation of what was then a modern disaster protection system under Helmut Schmidt, there has not been such far-reaching development,” emphasized the SPD politician.
A corresponding Senate document on the reorientation of Hamburg’s civil protection and crisis management has already been launched and could be adopted by the citizens in October. The Senate is planning to spend around 25 million euros over the next two years.
Senate: “Turning point” must also lead to changes in Hamburg
Based on the experience gained in dealing with the consequences of recent crises such as the coronavirus pandemic and the Russian war of aggression against Ukraine, it has proven to be a good idea for the Interior Ministry to set up its own crisis teams to coordinate measures beyond the normal agency structure. At the same time, according to the Senate’s considerations, it has become clear that it is of great importance to prepare for dealing with longer-lasting, complex and multi-faceted crises and hybrid threats.
This applies, for example, to the effects of the climate crisis or the consequences of the Russian war of aggression. In this case in particular, it becomes clear “that internal and external security can hardly be separated anymore and that the ‘turning point’ must also lead to changes in Hamburg.” Hamburg is increasingly confronted with hybrid threats such as cyber attacks, espionage, disinformation and sabotage.
“Department for Crisis Management and Civil Protection” in the centre
The new focus of the reorientation will now be the new “Department for Crisis Management and Civil Protection”, which has been designed since the beginning of last year by a working group under the leadership of the Interior Ministry. In future, it will consist of 44 employees from the areas of strategic planning and analysis, civil protection, cyber security, training and further education, and civil-military cooperation. Around 30 of the positions will be completely new.
The new department will permanently deal with known and expected risk scenarios for Hamburg and develop appropriate prevention and management strategies. This will also include an information management system in which all data required in the event of a crisis will flow together. At the same time, it will be the coordination point for all federal and state committees, working groups and for the Federal Office for Information Security.
Federal Office for the Protection of the Constitution also receives more staff
In order to ensure a comprehensive assessment of the threat situation, the Senate wants to provide other areas of the authority with more personnel and material resources. For example, the Office for the Protection of the Constitution will be expanded by seven positions to increase its investigations into espionage and cyber activities by foreign powers. The police will receive five more positions, for example for investigations into espionage and sabotage. In addition, ballistic helmets and protective shields will be made available to counter terrorism. dpa
