In the aftermath of a shooting at Hamburg’s main train station, which left 18 people injured, the Green party has criticized the allocation of police resources, arguing that many forces are tied up at the country’s borders due to intensified border controls.
According to Konstantin von Notz, the party’s deputy parliamentary group leader, the presence of sufficient police personnel is crucial at high-risk locations like airports and train stations. “I expect the Federal Minister of the Interior to ensure this, rather than putting it at risk with questionable border controls” he told the Stern newspaper.
Notz also emphasized the need for motivated police officers, stating that those currently working at the borders, many of whom are working long hours and overtime, are not in the right state of mind to provide adequate protection for the public. “A significant number of police officers are now resigning due to overwork” he added.
To prevent such incidents in the future, the Green politician is calling for better care for mentally ill individuals, citing the Hamburg shooting as an example of the need for improved medical facilities and a greater emphasis on prevention. “The current situation in Germany makes it clear that we lack sufficient medical capacities to properly care for mentally ill people” Notz said, stressing that this needs to change and that more funding should be allocated to prevent such tragedies. “It may not sound very elegant at first, but it is necessary to protect the public” he concluded.