Germany’s police union is raising concerns about potential security implications arising from the conflict in Ukraine and is advocating for strengthened domestic law enforcement capabilities Jochen Kopelke, national chairman of the GdP (Gewerkschaft der Polizei), warned that the widespread availability of weapons in Ukraine could lead to increased criminal activity and weapon smuggling within Europe, potentially reaching central Europe He cited instances in Sweden where firearms traced back to Ukrainian sources were utilized in criminal acts, anticipating a similar development within Germany
Kopelke is calling for expedited procedures for the confiscation of assets derived from criminal activity The GdP advocates for a reversal of the burden of proof, allowing authorities to seize unexplained wealth-requiring individuals to demonstrate the legitimate origin of their assets He points to Italy’s existing system as a potential model and proposes a financial arrangement whereby proceeds from asset confiscation would be reinvested into law enforcement Specifically, he suggests a deal between the Ministries of Finance, Justice and Interior, allocating half of confiscated assets to the justice system and the other half to police forces, citing the example of Bremen where such funds are already being directed towards policing
Furthermore, Kopelke highlighted the potential for the US-developed data analysis software Palantir to create approximately 1,000 additional police positions, despite its substantial licensing costs While acknowledging the current lack of a comparable European alternative, he revealed an ongoing project to develop such a system, emphasizing that the project prioritizes data security by keeping servers and data within European control, unlike Palantir’s overseas infrastructure