GERMANY

Tackling German transnational crime

A number of global organized crime groups operate in Germany, engaging in a wide range of crimes such as drug trafficking, property crime, people smuggling and crime associated with the business world, tax and customs offences. Associated crime includes extortion and money laundering.

Since a large volume of Germany’s organized crime threats are orchestrated from other countries and regions, a connected, informed and collaborative response is essential to disrupting them.  An international approach is also key to effectively tackling the threat of cybercrime and terrorism in Germany.

The INTERPOL National Central Bureau (NCB) in Germany provides national law enforcement with a platform to work with police across the globe in tackling transnational crime.

INTERPOL in Germany

Russian and German INTERPOL cooperation results in fugitive extradition

10 May 2019

The Federal Criminal Police Office - called ‘Bundeskriminalamt’ (BKA) - serves as Germany’s INTERPOL NCB.  It is staffed by some 6,300 men and women working in three different cities: Wiesbaden, Berlin and Meckenheim.

As the central intelligence agency, the NCB is the focal point for German investigations requiring global input.  It gives German police an international network to work with the INTERPOL community in tackling the crime areas which affect Germany.

The BKA is represented in 50 countries and in a wide range of law enforcement organizations, including the INTERPOL General Secretariat.

German national law enforcement

German law enforcement services are provided by a combination of agencies which have either a local, national or international remit.

The BKA is Germany’s central agency for police intelligence, communications, research and training.  In addition to its role as NCB, the BKA is responsible for criminal prosecution in cases of international organized crime, specific cases of terrorism, and the protection of members of Germany’s constitutional bodies.

Two additional agencies operate at federal level: the ‘Bundespolizei’ (Federal Police) and ‘Polizei beim Deutschen Bundestag’ (German Parliament Police).

The Bundespolizei is a countrywide operational police force responsible for homeland security, border protection, law and order and the protection of people and property. The Polizei beim Deutschen Bundestag is responsible for safety and security in Parliament buildings and premises nationwide.

As a Federal Republic made up of 16 states, each state is responsible for its own policing and has its own state Police, called ‘Landespolizei’.

There are just over 320,000 police officers for the prevention and prosecution of offences in Germany.