After the attacks on emergency services in Berlin and other major German cities on New Year’s Eve, several federal ministers are calling for the perpetrators to be sentenced quickly and harshly. “A maximum of a few weeks can pass before a verdict is reached. This is the only way for the rule of law to gain respect,” said Federal Interior Minister Nancy Faeser (SPD) of “Bild am Sonntag”. “Young violent offenders must immediately and clearly feel that their actions have consequences,” she emphasized.
Federal Minister of Justice Marco Buschmann (FDP) told the newspaper: “Our constitutional state must be able to defend itself. It must not let anyone dance on its nose.” In the case of bodily harm and resistance to law enforcement officers, prison sentences of up to several years are possible. “This must be consistently enforced,” warned the minister. In the case of persons without a right of residence, the options for expulsion and deportation must be used.
Faeser also advocated police protection for certain rescue operations. “As long as these problems exist, I think police protection for rescue workers makes sense in particularly dangerous operations,” said the interior minister. She also spoke out in favor of the use of bodycams for all police officers in Germany, and in certain areas also for rescue services or firefighters. “These cameras make rioters more reluctant to attack the police,” argued the SPD politician.
