Following the introduction of border controls, Germany's largest police union reports little progress in reducing irregular migration. The union's chair said smugglers and migrants are bypassing checkpoints, and criticized the lack of modern equipment for officers.
Just over a week after the introduction of new border controls, the German Police Union (GdP) has not yet seen any progress in curbing irregular migration. "We continue to see that the number of apprehensions of unauthorized persons and smugglers is relatively low," GdP chairperson Andreas Roßkopf told the Redaktionsnetzwerk Deutschland (RND). The number of refusals at the borders in western Germany is also low.
Roßkopf added that the introduction of border controls had led to vehicles bypassing checkpoints and main roads. "Even bus companies are avoiding this and driving around," he said.
The German government reintroduced controls at all German land borders on September 16. In a letter to the EU Commission, Interior Minister Nancy Faeser referred to the "dangers posed by Islamist terrorism" and "incidents of knife crime and violent crime committed by refugees."
Also read: Germany border controls: What this means for refugees and asylum seekers
Criticism of capacity and equipment
When the border checks were introduced, federal police spokesperson Daniel Rosin told German press agency dpa that there were sufficient forces for the checks. He added that officers would be deployed "around the clock", depending on the respective situation in the border area.
In an interview with RND, the head of the GdP also criticized the lack of modern equipment for the police officers responsible in connection with the expanded border controls. Among other things, modern search vehicles, mobile checkpoints, speed cameras and lighting are needed.
"Autumn and winter are just around the corner and the authorities must now urgently look at how they can create working conditions that are reasonably acceptable," said Roßkopf. While police officers were doing "a highly professional job with a high level of motivation," he said the members were suffering from what he called shortcomings of recent years.
With AFP and dpa