Controversy over study: who looks at racism in the police?

Police violence and racial profiling – a big topic a year ago. Interior Minister Seehofer came under pressure because he rejected a study on racism among the police and commissioned a motivational study. What has become of it?

When Blaise Francis El Mourabit walks through a train station, the motto is: Police check! “For example, I’ve already been told: Get the drugs out right away.” What the German-Congolese human rights lawyer describes is called racial profiling.

For example, people are targeted by the police because of their skin color. Controls without a specific reason, only because of the appearance, are prohibited. The European Commission against Racism and Intolerance came to the conclusion in March 2020: In Germany there are “strong indications of pronounced racial profiling”. The Commission recommends a study on this.

Seehofer rejects demands for a police study

The discussion is getting louder with the assassination of George Floyd in the USA and police chats with right-wing extremist content. But a year ago Federal Interior Minister Horst Seehofer (CSU) said of a racism study: “Not now. Now let’s do everything else and implement what we have agreed. We cannot play a make a wish every week. ”

Seehofer evades, Irene Mihalic in an interview with the Bavarian broadcastk. She is a police officer herself and sits in the Bundestag for the Greens. “Horst Seehofer is simply ducking away from this topic.” Mihalic is of the opinion that Seehofer’s behavior is doing the officials who are exemplary in their service, no favors. They are permanently suspected of racism.

Federal Interior Minister sees police denigrated

In October 2020 the federal government decides to commission a study on everyday racism. There should also be an investigation into everyday police life. But not a racism study. Seehofer’s reasoning: “They hold their heads out for us and that’s why there is now no study that is directed against the police with allegations or allegations.”

Instead, at the beginning of December the Federal Minister of the Interior commissioned the University of the Police in Münster to conduct a study on the motivation, attitudes and violence of police officers in everyday life. It is an investigation into Seehofer’s conditions. Study director Anja Schiemann emphasizes independence: “The research is open-ended. We don’t do a study to please Mr. Seehofer.”

Police study should deliver results in three years

The Federal Minister of the Interior keeps saying how important the fight against racism and right-wing extremism is to him. Seehofer justifies this with the attacks in Hanau and Halle and the murder of Kassel’s regional president Walter Lübcke. The police study is part of this fight. It is in the final report of the Cabinet Committee on Combating Right-Wing Extremism and Racism.

The Police University in Münster is planning two waves of surveys. The first in October. The officials should provide information about their attitudes via questionnaires and in interviews. Researchers also observe them at work. First results: in three years.

SPD demands consistent action

That is not enough for Uli Grötsch. The SPD domestic politician from Upper Palatinate worked as a police officer for a long time. “In three years’ time the situation may be completely different from what it is now. New cases keep popping up and they have to be dealt with consistently.” In an interview with the Bavarian Broadcasting on the latest right-wing extremism allegations against employees of the Bundestag police.

Human rights lawyer El Mourabit is also calling for quick action. In order to better clarify allegations of racial profiling and police violence, he suggests that police officers run bodycams more frequently during controls.