German police union warns many stations no longer fit for service

The German police union (GdP) has complained about a large number of dilapidated facilities used by the federal police and called for urgent investment in infrastructure, saying many buildings were no longer fit for service.

"Roughly every third station has major defects or is in a dilapidated condition," Andreas Rosskopf, head of the federal police branch of the GdP, told the Rheinische Post newspaper. The condition of many buildings and stations was "no longer acceptable," he said.

Rosskopf said federal police staff lacked office space, accommodation and parking facilities. "It cannot be the case that Germany talks about modern security architecture while police employees are standing with buckets under leaking ceilings or having to work in completely outdated buildings," he said.

Repeated delays to renovation work were causing frustration among staff, he added.

The union is calling for more funding for renovations, new buildings and improved accommodation.

"A modern federal police force needs modern infrastructure," Rosskopf said, adding that this was "not a luxury demand, but a question of respect, motivation and ultimately public security."