A German Police Union is calling for the increased use of video technology in the wake of recent knife attacks. The union’s chairman, Rainer Wendt, emphasized the need for modern video technology in high-crime areas to detect and prevent dangerous situations from arising. Wendt pointed out that the necessary technology has already been developed and tested and that it should not be subject to ideological debates in every police department.
The German Association of Cities and Municipalities shares a similar view, suggesting that the expanded use of video surveillance with AI support should be explored to identify potential threats and unusual patterns of movement. The association’s managing director, André Berghegger, emphasized that the expansion of police competencies and the use of technical capabilities should be focused on sensitive areas, such as weapon-free zones.
Wendt also called for a stronger public condemnation of the carrying of knives and other dangerous objects, as well as increased measures to prevent violence in schools and among children and youth. He suggested that schools should be strengthened to minimize the risk of violence and that parents should be held responsible for ensuring their children do not carry weapons to school.
The union’s chairman also emphasized the importance of families in the upbringing of young people, stating that if the message is sent that it is acceptable to carry knives, schools, playgrounds and public spaces will become dangerous areas.
Furthermore, Wendt proposed that qualified experts should assess the danger posed by mentally ill individuals more frequently, in conjunction with the police and that medical confidentiality and data protection laws should be reformed to allow the police to be informed about potentially dangerous individuals, such as those being released from psychiatric institutions.