Overview

• Berlin’s ban took effect July 17, prohibiting knives and other weapons on all S-Bahn, U-Bahn, bus and tram services as well as in stations and on platforms.
• Police can conduct searches without specific suspicion and issue administrative fines up to €10,000, with repeat offenders at risk of driving licence suspension.
• Exemptions cover specified professions—including police, firefighters and chefs—and allow newly purchased, still-packaged knives for work or delivery.
• North Rhine-Westphalia has introduced new prohibition zones around the main stations in Bielefeld, Bonn, Hamm and Münster banning knives, batons, electroshock devices and pepper spray.
• Berlin’s Interior Senator Iris Spranger is pressing for a coordinated nationwide ban while Hesse, Hamburg and Baden-Württemberg have enacted or are planning similar measures.