Berlin’s Interior Senator, Iris Spranger (SPD), is pushing for expanded investigative powers to combat the escalating wave of gang-related shootings plaguing the city. A core element of her proposed solution involves authorizing telephone surveillance of individuals found in possession of illegal firearms, a step drawing scrutiny from legal experts and civil liberties advocates.
Spranger intends to formally present a motion at the upcoming Interior Ministers Conference in Bremen, scheduled for early December. The motion seeks “further investigative capabilities enshrined in law” and will require involvement from the Justice Ministers Conference, ultimately aiming for amendments to federal legislation. Currently, investigations into the origin of seized firearms are limited to “unknown” sources, complicating efforts to disrupt trafficking networks.
The proposed legislative changes would focus on both the Weapons Act and the Code of Criminal Procedure, specifically targeting the barriers to implementing telecommunications surveillance (TKÜ). According to Spranger, simply possessing an illegal firearm should trigger broader investigative measures to identify supply chains and dismantle criminal structures.
The Berlin administration hopes that surveillance of individuals found with illegal weapons will lead investigators to the dealers and networks providing pistols and other firearms to the criminal gangs. Spranger emphasized that the safety and protection of Berlin residents are her “top priority” necessitating a reduction in the availability of illegal weapons and a disruption of their sources.
Spranger’s rationale extends beyond immediate apprehension, suggesting that the mere possession of an illegal firearm offers a significant indication of an individual’s propensity for violence. She positioned the investigation of supply routes and prevention of weapon production as “indispensable prerequisites” for effective and sustainable crime fighting, requiring a strengthening of investigative capabilities.
The initiative follows the establishment of specialized task forces – initially “Soko Park” and now the expanded “Soko Ferrum” (Latin for iron) – formed in response to the increased frequency of shootings in October. The deployment of these units underscores the gravity of the situation and the urgency felt by city officials.
However, the proposal to broaden surveillance powers raises concerns about potential overreach and its impact on fundamental rights. Critics warn that lowering the threshold for telecommunications monitoring could lead to unwarranted intrusion into the privacy of law-abiding citizens, disproportionately affecting vulnerable communities. The debate is expected to be contentious, highlighting a fundamental tension between the need for enhanced public safety and the protection of civil liberties in a rapidly changing security landscape.