Berlin’s police force, one of Germany’s largest with approximately 28,000 officers, is facing discussions regarding potential postponements of planned raids and operations. The situation stems from a recent internal communication circulated by the Berlin State Criminal Police Office (LKA) to various departments at the end of June. This communication, which references a directive from the public prosecutor’s office and was reported by “Tagesspiegel”, highlights a critical issue affecting law enforcement activities.
The public prosecutor’s office recently announced the temporary closure of the evidence storage facility at the Moabit Criminal Court, effective from July 1st. This facility, one of the largest in Germany, requires urgent repairs to comply with labor and fire safety regulations. The LKA’s internal email instructs departments to assess, on a case-by-case basis, whether planned raids can be postponed if legally and tactically feasible, with the aim of reducing the current backlog of evidence.
While postponing operations due to lack of urgency or relating to less severe offenses is a recognized practice – often influenced by occasional personnel shortages – concerns are being raised about the implications of the current situation. Carsten Milius of the German Police Union commented to “Tagesspiegel”, noting that even routine operations occasionally uncover illicit drugs, weapons, stolen goods, or undeclared merchandise. He expressed hope that the evidence storage facility will be fully operational again as soon as possible to avoid disruption to ongoing investigations.