The head of Germany’s Police Union (GdP), Jochen Kopelke, is intensifying his calls for a nationwide firework ban, citing an increasingly untenable situation for law enforcement during New Year’s Eve celebrations. In an interview with T-Online, Kopelke argued that the current scale of firework usage – moving beyond commonplace small crackers – is generating widespread problems, necessitating a fundamental and comprehensive prohibition. He insists such a measure would have an immediate impact.
Kopelke painted a stark picture of the realities faced by police officers, stating that the sheer volume of incidents and calls for assistance overwhelms the force, creating “lawless zones” for periods of time. “We simply can’t keep up until 4 a.m”. he stated, emphasizing the inability of officers to be present everywhere and respond to every situation promptly. While increased police presence has offered some recent relief, Kopelke warned this is unsustainable, with dwindling personnel resources stretching the force to breaking point. “We can no longer guarantee the population’s safety at all times, especially on New Year’s Eve” he warned, adding that the current workload places them unable to fulfill legitimate public requests, fueling a palpable sense of insecurity among citizens.
Kopelke’s criticism was squarely directed at the federal government, accusing them of prioritizing electoral considerations over addressing the escalating crisis. He explicitly singled out Interior Minister Alexander Dobrindt, accusing him of misaligned priorities and resisting meaningful action. Kopelke questioned Dobrindt’s reluctance to amend explosive materials legislation, juxtaposing it with the deployment of 15,000 German police officers at the nation’s borders. These border officers, Kopelke asserts, are now being required to address the issue of illegal firework imports, further depleting resources available to safeguard cities and railway stations. He concluded by demanding Dobrindt be held accountable for the outcome of this year’s New Year’s Eve.
The argument from North Rhine-Westphalia’s Interior Minister Herbert Reul – that a firework ban would be unenforceable – was dismissed by Kopelke as logically inconsistent and ultimately untenable. He drew a direct comparison to the ongoing debate surrounding cannabis legalization, suggesting if enforceability were the sole governing principle, numerous existing laws would similarly be abandoned. Kopelke urged Reul to experience firsthand the reality of a “hotspot” location where genuine legal control is absent, challenging him to participate in a night shift to fully understand the gravity of the situation.