The Spd parliamentary group proposes merging Deutsche Bahn's security service and the federal police into a new 'Central Rail Object Protection' unit. The police union responds reservedly, pointing to numerous unanswered questions. The aim is to address coordination issues and uneven protection levels.
Spd interior politicians criticize the current rail security situation as marked by parallel responsibilities and diverse actors. In a paper available to the RedaktionsNetzwerk Deutschland, it states: "Different standards, powers, and responsibilities lead to coordination problems, friction losses, and an uneven protection level."
Currently, Deutsche Bahn's (Db) privately organized security service enforces house rules at stations and on trains, while the federal police handles sovereign tasks. The Spd wants to combine both in a 'Central Rail Object Protection' unit, modeled after Berlin police's 'Central Object Protection.' There, police employees guard high-risk facilities like embassies after 21 weeks of training.
The police union (Gdp) is unconvinced. Andreas Roßkopf, Gdp chairman for federal police, told Rnd: "Many details are still missing to fully assess the Spd's idea." He asked: "What status should be created for the 'new' employees? What exact task descriptions are to be defined? Who will take over financing?" Additionally, the railway as owner must implement its own protection measures, which the paper does not address.
Db Security and its subsidiaries employ around 5000 people. Security services of other railway companies in local transport are not mentioned in the Spd proposal. The Gdp emphasizes that many points remain unclear.
