In Bavaria, more and more people are volunteering in security guards. “The expansion of the security guard in the Free State continues to make great strides. The number of volunteers and the municipalities involved is increasing from year to year,” said Interior Minister Joachim Herrmann (CSU) on Thursday in Ingolstadt.
There are currently 1,381 security guards throughout Bavaria (plus 112 compared to October 2022), 447 of whom are women (plus 36). These are volunteers in 165 security guards (plus six) in 255 cities and communities (plus 42). The goal is around 1,500 security guards in Bavaria, according to Herrmann.
He appealed to all municipalities and cities in Bavaria without a security guard to consider the introduction: “Every municipality can benefit from the Bavarian security guard.” The Bavarian police stand by with advice and action. All costs would be fully borne by the Free State. In the past, many municipalities were concerned that they would be assigned fewer police stations after agreeing to a security guard.
Security guards act as links between the population and the police. The members patrol residential areas and provide the police with information if necessary. In this way, the population’s sense of security should be increased, and criminal offenses and disturbances of order would also be prevented in this way, according to Herrmann.
The first security guards in Bavaria were established in 1994. The voluntary helpers have neither police powers nor may they carry out their duties. However, they are provided with uniforms and radios and given further training by the local police stations. The equipment now also includes modern pedelecs – according to Herrmann, these should be further expanded in the future.