Schleswig-Holstein Police

Schleswig-Holstein Police (German: ''Landespolizei Schleswig-Holstein)'' is a state law-enforcement agency in Schleswig-Holstein, Germany. It is subordinated to the Schleswig-Holstein Ministry of the Interior, Municipal Affairs, Housing and Sports.

Responsibilities

The Police in Schleswig-Holstein are responsible for averting dangers to Public Order and Safety, and to aid and notify Authorities tasked with Public Safety if necessary, as well as to determine and investigate misdemeanors. Part of averting dangers to Public Safety is responding to Emergencies. Furthermore, the Police must investigate Crime according to § 163 StPO.

Equipment

The Schleswig-Holstein Police is equipped with blue Uniforms, which is used in Hamburg, Bremen, Lower-Saxony, Thuringia and Mecklenburg-Vorpommern as well. Unlike the other States using the uniform, Schleswig-Holstein has opted to equip their Officers with white service caps. Officers are equipped with pepper spray, batons and Walter P99Q-Pistols. Patrol cars are also equipped with Heckler und Koch MP5 and SigSauer MCX. Both MP5 and MCX are to be replaced with the Heckler und Koch 437. Tasers are currently being field-tested by Officers in Neumünster and Ahrensburg.

Organisation

As per the ''Polizeiorganisationsgesetz'' of 2004 (Police organisation law), the Schleswig-Holstein State Police was reorganised into the ''Landespolizeiamt'' (State Office of the Police) and the ''Landeskriminalamt'' (State Office of Criminal Investigation). Both offices are headed by the current ''Landespolizeidirektor'' (Director of State Police), Michael Wilksen.

Landespolizeiamt

The Landespolizeiamt deals with matters of human resources, administration, budget and acquisition of material. It is divided into a staff position and four sections. They are Police Management, IT-Management, Human Resource Management and Water Protection Police.

Polizeidirektionen

The Landespolizeiamt supervises the eight Police Directorates (''Polizeidirektionen'') of Schleswig-Holstein.

Polizeidirektion Kiel

The Police Directorate Kiel is responsible for Kiel and the district of Plön.

Within the city of Kiel it is divided into four precincts, with additional Police stations subordinated to the 1st precinct in Kiel-Friederichsort, Kiel-Suchsdorf and Kiel-Wik, to the 3rd precinct in Kiel-Hassee and in Kiel-Mettenhof, as well as to the 4th precinct in Kiel-Dietrichsdorf and Kiel-Wellsee. The ''Polizeibezirksrevier'' (Police district precinct) and Criminal Investigation Police precinct (B''ezirkskriminalinspektion'') serves the Kiel area as well.

The district of Plön has one precinct, which is divided into the precinct itself and seven stations in Preetz, Wankendorf, Schwentinental, Schönkirchen, Heikendorf, Schönberg and Lütjenburg.

Polizeidirektion Lübeck

The Police Directorate Lübeck is responsible for the City of Lübeck and the district of Ostholstein.

Within the City of Lübeck, the Directorate is divided into four precincts, with additional Police stations subordinated to the 2nd precinct in Lübeck-Buntekuh, to the 3rd precinct in Lübeck-Kücknitz, Lübeck-Travemünde, Lübeck-Schlutup and Lübeck-Eichholz, and to the 4th precinct in Lübeck-Moisling, Lübeck-Blankensee, Lübeck-St. Jürgen and Lübeck-Hüxtertor.

The district of Ostholstein is served by the Eutin precinct, with Police stations in Malente, Süsel and Hutzfeld, the Bad Schwartau precinct with police stations in Stockelsdorf, Ahrensbök, Timmendorfer Strand, Scharbeutz and Ratekau, the Heiligenhafen precinct with Police stations in Oldenburg, Fehmarn, Lensahn and Großenbrode, as well as the Neustadt precinct with Police stations in Grube, Schönwalde and Grömitz.

The Police Directorate also contains a ''Autobahnpolizei'' (Autobahn-Police precinct).

The Criminal Investigation Police (''Kriminalpolizei'') is based in Lübeck with a Criminal Investigation Police precinct, onto which Departments of the Criminal Investigation Police (''Kriminalinspektionen'') in Bad Schwartau, Oldenburg, Neustadt and Eutin are subordinated.

Polizeidirektion Flensburg

The Police Directorate Flensburg is the northernmost Police Directorate within Schleswig-Holstein and responsible for the City of Flensburg and the districts of Schleswig-Flensburg and Northern Frisia.

The City of Flensburg is divided into two precincts, with additional Police stations subordinated to the 2nd precinct in Flensburg-Mitte, Flensburg-Mürwik, Flensburg-Engelsby, Flensburg-Nord, Flensburg-Friesischer Berg, Flensburg-Weiche, Flensburg-Harrislee, Flensburg-Handewitt, Flensburg-Glücksburg, Flensburg-Schafflund and Flensburg-Husby.

The district of Schleswig-Flensburg is split between a precinct in Schleswig and Kappeln. The precinct in Schleswig is subdivided into Police stations in Kropp, Silberstedt, Erfde, Busdorf and Böklund, while the precinct in Kappeln is subdivided into Police stations in Süderbarup, Steinbergkirche, Mittelangeln and Tarp.

The district of Northern Frisia is served by the Sylt precinct, the Niebüll precinct along with Police stations in Leck, Bredstedt, Wyk auf Föhr and Nebel, as well as the Husum precinct along with Police stations in Friederichsstadt, Viöl, Hattsdtedt, Pellworm, Tönning, Garding, St.-Peter Ording and Seeth.

The Police Directorate also contains a ''Autobahnpolizei'' (Autobahn-Police precinct).

The Criminal Investigation Police (''Kriminalpolizei'') is based in Flensburg with a Criminal Investigation Police precinct, onto which Departments of the Criminal Investigation Police (''Kriminalinspektionen'') in Sylt and Niebüll are subordinated.

Polizeidirektion Neumünster

The Police Directorate Neumünster is responsible for the City of Neumünster and the district of Rendsurg-Eckernförde.

Within the city of Neumünster it is divided into two precincts, with additional Police stations subordinated to the 2nd precinct in Neumünster-Faldera, Neumünster-Einfeld, Neumünster-Tungendorf, Neumünster-Mitte, Neumünster-Wittdorf, Neumünster-Gadeland and Neumünster-West. Furthermore, there is a station at the Neumünster refugee accommodation (''Landesunterkunft Neumünster'') and a specialized traffic collision unit. Additionally, based in Neumünster is a ''Autobahnpolizei'' (Autobahn-Police) and the ''Verkehrsüberwachungsdienst'' (Traffic surveillance unit), specialized on the repression and prevention of road rage.

The district of Rendsburg-Eckernförde is covered by severals precincts with subordinated stations. The Rendsurg precinct with stations in Österrönfeld, Fockbek and Owschlag, the Hohenwestedt precinct with stations in Handerau-Hademarschen and Jevestedt, the Nortorf precinct with a station in Aukrug, as well as the Bordesholm precinct with stations in Molfsee and Flintbek. Furthermore, a Kronshagen precinct with a station in Achterwehr, and a Eckernförde precinct with stations in Gettorf, Ascheffel, Damp, Altenholz, Rieseby and Schwedeneck. Rendburg-Eckernförde is also served by a ''Polizeibezirksrevier'' (Police district precinct).

The Police Directorate also contains a ''Autobahnpolizei'' (Autobahn-Police precinct) and a Department of the Criminal Investigation Police (''Kriminalinspektion'').

Polizeidirektion Itzehoe

The Police Directorate Itzehoe is responsible for the districts of Steinburg and Ditmarsh.

The Itzehoe precinct is responsible for the district of Steinburg, along with its Police stations in Kellinghusen, Hohenlockstedt, Schenefeld and Wellenkamp.

Responsibility for the Ditmarsh district rests with the Brunsbüttel precinct with its Police stations in Glückstadt, Marne, Wilster, Krempe, Burg and Horst, as well as the Heide precinct with Police stations in Meldorf, Büsum, Albersdorf, Lunden, Hennstedt, Tellingstedt and Wesselbüren. A ''Polizeibezirksrevier'' (Police district precinct) serves the area as well.

The Criminal Investigation Police (''Kriminalpolizei'') is based in Itzehoe with a Criminal Investigation Police precinct, onto which a Department of the Criminal Investigation Police (''Kriminalinspektion'') in Heide is subordinated.

Polizeidirektion Bad Segeberg

The Police Directorate Bad Segeberg is responsible for the districts of Segeberg and Pinneberg.

The district of Segeberg is covered by a precinct in Bad Segeberg with subordinated Police stations in Garbek, Wahlstedt, Leezen, Rickling and Trappenkamp, a precinct in Norderstedt along with stations in Norderstedt-Mitte and Norderstedt-Ost, as well as a precinct in Kaltenkirchen with Police stations in Bad Bramstedt, Boostedt, Henstedt-Ulzburg, Ellerau, Tangstedt and Itzstedt.

The district of Pinneberg is served by the Pinneberg precinct with a Police station in Kummerfeld, the Rellingen precinct along with Police stations in Schenefeld, Bönningstedt and Quickborn, the Elmshorn precinct with Police stations in Barmstedt and Brande-Hörnerkirchen, and the Wedel precinct with a Police station in Uetersen.

Within the Police Directorate, there are two ''Autobahnpolizei'' (Autobahn-Police precinct), one in Bad Segeberg, and one in Elmshorn.

The Criminal Investigation Police (''Kriminalpolizei'') are based in Bad Segeberg, Norderstedt, Pinneberg and Elmshorn with Criminal Investigation Police Departments.

Polizeidirektion Ratzeburg

The Police Directorate Ratzeburg is responsible for the districts of Herzogtum Lauenburg and Stormarn.

Responsible for the district of Stormarn is the Bad Oldesloe precinct along with its Police station in Reinfeld, the Reinbek precinct with Police stations in Wentorf, Glinde, Barsbüttel and Aumühle.

The district of Herzogtum Lauenburg is served by the precinct in Ratzeburg, along with Police stations in Berkenthin, Sandesneben, Mölln and Nusse, by the Schwarzenbek precinct with its Police stations in Lauenburg and Büchen, as welll as by a precinct in Ahrensburg with Police stations in Großhansdorf, Trittau, Bargteheide and Ammersbek.

The Criminal Investigation Police (''Kriminalpolizei'') is based in Bad Oldesloe with a Criminal Investigation Police precinct, onto which Departments of the Criminal Investigation Police (''Kriminalinspektionen'') in Ahrensburg, Reinbek, Ratzeburg and Geesthacht are subordinated.

Polizeidirektion für Aus- und Fortbildung und die Bereitschaftspolizei

The Polizeidrektion für Aus- und Fortbildung und die Bereitschaftspolizei is a Police Directorate based in Eutin. Its function within the Schleswig-Holstein State Police is to provide training to both aspiring and experienced Police officers. The Schleswig-Holstein riot Police (''Bereitschaftspolizei'') is also subordinated to the Directorate.

Wasserschutzpolizei

The Water Protection Police (''Wasserschutzpolizei'') is directly subordinated to the ''Landespolizeiamt'' and isn't part of a Police Directorate. Additionally to the German national waters on the Schleswig-Holstein coast, the Water protection Police also patrols the Kiel Canal.

Water Protection Police Precincts are located in Kiel, Brunsbüttel and Lübeck, its subordinated stations in Flensburg, Kappeln, Husum, Heligoland and Fehmarn.

The Island of Heligoland is patrolled by the Water Protection Police, as opposed to other German Islands.

Ranks

The ranking-system of the Schleswig-Holstein State Police is divided into three levels: the junior level, ''Laufbahngruppe 1.2'', formerly known as ''mittlerer Dienst'', the senior level, ''Laufbahngruppe 2.1'', formerly known as ''gehoener Dienst'', and the command level, Laufbahngruppe ''2.2'', formerly known as ''höherer Dienst''. Uniformed officers, such as those of the ''Schutzpolizei'' visibly wear their rank. Officers of the Criminal Investigation Police do not wear Uniforms, thus there are no Insignias designed for them. Within the ranking system, their titles differ from those of the ''Schutzpolizei'', as the prefix ''Polizei-'' is changed to ''Kriminal-''. For example: The equivalent to a Polizeioberkommissar would be a Kriminaloberkommissar.

Laufbahngruppe 1.2 (mittlerer Dienst)

Laufbahngruppe 2.1 (gehobener Dienst)

Laufbahngruppe 2.2 (höherer Dienst)

Training

The Schleswig-Holstein State Police ranks are divided into three levels, into which applicants may enter after completing the rank-specific selection process: The ''Laufbahngruppe'' 1.2, formerly known as ''mittlerer Dienst'', the lowest of the three rank-levels, and the ''Laufbahngruppe'' 2.1, formerly known as ''gehobener Dienst.'' Entering the Criminal Investigation Police-Branch is only possible for applicants of ''Laufbahngruppe 2.1 (gehobener Dienst)''.

Aspiring Police Officers of ''Laufbahngruppe 1.2 (mittlerer Dienst)'' bear the title of ''Polizeiobermeisteranwärter'' during one and a half year of training at the ''Polizeidirektion für Aus- und Fortbildung und die Bereitschaftspolizei'' and a year of training on the job at a Police precinct or station in Schleswig-Holstein. After said training, they are promoted to the rank of ''Polizeiobermeister''.

Aspiring Police Officers of ''Laufbahngruppe 2.1 (gehobener Dienst)'' bear the title of ''Polizeikommissaranwärter,'' or ''Kriminalkommissaranwärter'' during half a year of training at the ''Polizeidirektion für Aus- und Fortbildung und die Bereitschaftspolizei'' and half a year of training on the job at a Police precinct or station in Schleswig-Holstein. The bulk of the training is however made up by two years of studying at the ''Fachhochschule für Verwaltung und Diensleistung'' in Altenholz, where ''Polizeikommissaranwärter'' receive theoretical training through university education. During training, ''Polizeikommissaranwärter'' have to obtain a bachelor's degree''.'' After three years of training, the Aspiring Police officers are promoted to the rank of Kriminal- or ''Polizeikommissar.''

History

In accordance with Ordinance No. 46 by the British Military Government, the State of Schleswig-Holstein replaced the Province of Schleswig-Holstein on 23 August 1946. Ordinance No. 57 furthermore gave legislative power to the Landtag of Schleswig-Holstein. However, legislation referring to the Police still had to be within the framework of Ordinance No. 135, which listed requirements for legislation related to the Police. On 25 January 1946 the British Military Governor of Schleswig-Holstein approved an Ordinance pertaining to the Reorganisation of the Police in Schleswig-Holstein, the Landtag passed a law subordinating the ''Landespolizei'' to the State Government, retroactive from 1 January 1947 on 4 January 1947. The ''Landespolizei'' was subordinated to the Ministry of the Interior, which appointed high-ranking Police officers, such as the Department Head, the ''Landespolizeidirektor.''

Training of new Police Officers had begun back in 1946 at Eckernförde-Carlshöhe, on Premises formerly used by the ''Kriegsmarine''. The founding of the ''Landespolizei'' in 1947 lead to the integration of the Training facility into the structure of the Police. In 1948, Training was reorganized to be conducted in three detachments of 100 Trainees.

The ''Polizeigesetz für das Land Schleswig-Holstein vom 23. März 1949'' reorganized the Schleswig-Holstein Police into five Police Groups. The Police Group North was responsible for the areas of the modern day Districts of Schleswig-Flensburg, Northern Frisia, Dithmarsh, Rendsburg-Eckernförde and the City of Flensburg. The Police Group South was responsible for the areas of the modern day Districts of Ostholstein, Segeberg, Steinburg, Duchy of Lauenburg, Stormarn, Pinneberg and the City of Neumünster. The Cities of Kiel and Lübeck had their own Police Groups. Each Police Group included the Criminal Investigation Police. The Water Protection Police formed a separate Police Group.

After the creation of the Federal Republic of Germany on 23 May 1949, an agreement between the Federal Government and the German states led to the passing of a law pertaining to the creation of Riot Police forces (''Bereitschaftspolizei''). On 4 July 1951, the first volunteers of the ''Bereitschaftspolizei'' moved into premises in Eckernförde-Carlshöhe. Schleswig-Holstein was therefore the first State to fulfill the agreement with the Federal Government.

In July 1950, the ''Landespolizeischule'' (State Police Training School) moved from Eckernförde to Kiel.

The Police was reformed again on 22 December 1952 through the ''Polizeiorganisationsgesetz'' of 1952 (Police organisation law). However this time, legislation was not bound to the Ordinances of the British Military Government. The Police was now organized into the ''Schutzpolizei'', Criminal Investigation Police (''Kriminalpolizei'')'','' the ''Bereitschaftspolizei'', and the Water Protection Police. The Criminal Investigation Police was subordinated to the ''Landeskriminalamt,'' while the ''Schutzpolizei'' was subordinated to the ''Landespolizeiamt''.

Since 1 September 1957 the ''Landespolizei's'' Training facilities are located in Eutin.

Legislation passed on 18 April 1967 further clarified the responsibilities of the Police in Schleswig-Holstein: According to § 168 LVwG (Version passed on 18 April 1967) those responsibilities are to detect and to avert dangers to Public Order and Safety, and to aid and notify Authorities tasked with Public Safety if necessary, as well as to determine and investigate misdemeanors. (Grounds for the investigation of crimes stem from § 163 StPO) The ''Polizeiorganisationsgesetz'' of 1968 (Police organisation law) reformed the Police in Schleswig-Holstein once again. It created four Police Directorates (''Polizeidrektionen''); ''Polizeidirektion Mitte,'' with Headquarters in Kiel, ''Polizeidirektion Nord,'' with Headquarters in Flensburg, ''Polizeidirektion West,'' with Headquarters in Itzehoe, and ''Polizeidirektion South,'' with Headquarters in Lübeck. The Water Protection Police formed a separate Police Directorate.

In 1973, the Schleswig-Holstein Police introduced a green-beige Uniform by Designer Heinz Oestergaard, which was in use Nationwide.

Due to increased terrorist activities, such as the attacks of the '' Rote Armee Fraktion (RAF)'', on 1 October 1974 then Schleswig-Holstein Minister of the Interior Rudolf Titzck created Special Forces, such as the '' SEK'' and '' MEK.''

A Reform of the ''Polizeiorganisationsgesetz'' of 1968 in 1994 created an additional independent Traffic Policing Directorate (''Verkehrspolizeidirektionen'') and the ''Polizeidirektion für Aus- und Fortbildung und die Bereitschaftspolizei.'' It also reorganized the Police Directorates into eight Directorates. A Directorate in Kiel, responsible for Kiel and the District of Plön, a Directorate in Flensburg, responsible for Flensburg and the District of Schleswig-Flensburg, a Directorate in Husum, responsible for the District of Northern Frisia, a Directorate in Itzehoe, responsible for the Districts of Steinburg and Ditmarsh, a Directorate in Bad Segeberg, responsible for the Districts of Segeberg and Pinneberg, a Directorate in Lübeck, responsible for Lübeck and the District of Ostholstein, and a Directorate in Ratzeburg, responsible for the Districts of Duchy of Lauenburg and Stormarn. The Directorate of the Water Protection Police was dissolved, with the Water Protection Police being directly subordinated to the ''Landespolizeiamt''.

The ''Polizeiorganisationsgesetz'' of 2004 created the current structure of the Schleswig-Holstein Police.^{(See also: ''Organisation'')} The latest changes to the ''Polizeiorganisationsgesetz'' have been made in 2013, which merged the Police Directorate in Husum into the Police Directorate in Flensburg.

In 2006, the Schleswig-Holstein Police introduced a blue Police Uniform, which is used in Hamburg, Lower Saxony, Bremen, Mecklenburg-Vorpommern and Thuringia as well.

In 2021, the Schleswig-Holstein Police hired a Transsexual Person for the first time in its History. Schleswig-Holstein is one of four states in Germany to allow Transexual Persons to become Police officers.

External links

Schleswig-Holstein Police official site

{{Authority control

State law enforcement agencies of Germany
Organisations based in Schleswig-Holstein
Schleswig-Holstein