Our German neighbors offer a rather unusual volunteer service: the voluntary police service. A kind of ‘auxiliary police’ consisting of armed, volunteer citizens. Unthinkable in Austria, as the BMI said when the “Krone” asked about it. But opinions are also divided in Germany.
Enlisting volunteers from the public to support the police doesn’t sound like a bad idea at first, especially in times of serious staff shortages. The only question that remains is what the ‘training’ and service should look like afterwards. In Germany, the voluntary police service exists in Baden-Württemberg, Bavaria, Hesse and Saxony. In Baden-Württemberg this has existed since 1963, with 576 citizens (as of 2020).
With a weapon and a uniform
All you have to do is complete a 50-hour training course. 18 and 65 year olds can register for the voluntary police service. In addition, the applicant must be medically fit and “appear suitable on the basis of his overall personality”. The training teaches self-defense, conversation management, conflict avoidance and psychological and tactical basic principles. The primary purpose of the volunteer police service is to avoid dangerous situations.
Also controversial in Germany
Once all this has been completed, the ‘auxiliary police officer’, after ‘training’, receives a weapon and uniform – a Walther P 5, the old service weapon of the German police. The volunteers have the same status as a police officer within the meaning of the Police Act and must therefore be able to protect their own life or that of someone else in an emergency. However, carrying a weapon is only permitted in Baden-Württemberg, in other states only pepper spray. In Baden-Württemberg, volunteers also wear the regular police uniform.
However, carrying a weapon by volunteers who have had only 50 hours of training is also considered controversial in Germany. For example, in 2018 there was a dispute in the green-black state government of Baden-Württemberg over whether or not “auxiliary police officers” were allowed to carry a weapon.
In general, “auxiliary police officers” may arrest suspicious and conspicuous people, determine their personal details, issue tickets and issue evictions.
Maximum 40 hours per month
However, police work is usually limited to 40 hours per month. As a rule, employees receive an expense allowance of seven euros per hour.
It is a fact that the Austrian police are desperately looking for new police trainees to counter the looming wave of retirements. Following the example of the Germans is not an option, as the Ministry of the Interior discovered when asked by ‘Krone’: “ An ‘auxiliary police force’ that… “The lack of adequate, high-quality police training is not an option in Austria. ”
Source: Krone
I am Wallace Jones, an experienced journalist. I specialize in writing for the world section of Today Times Live. With over a decade of experience, I have developed an eye for detail when it comes to reporting on local and global stories. My passion lies in uncovering the truth through my investigative skills and creating thought-provoking content that resonates with readers worldwide.
