Overview
- Justice Minister Stefanie Hubig announced this week that she will present a draft law to the cabinet in the coming weeks to raise minimum sentences for attacks on public-service workers.
- The proposal would raise the current minimum prison terms to at least six months for attacks on protected professions and to at least one year for particularly severe cases.
- Deutsche Bahn is expanding on-the-ground protections now, including wider use of bodycams, a nationwide alcohol ban at stations to take effect by October 15, more security staff, and video access for the Bundespolizei.
- The rail union EVG withdrew its threatened regional strike after the announcement, saying the ministry’s move removed the immediate reason for planned work stoppages beginning in January.
- The push follows high reported assault rates — DB and DB Regio say about 1,630 incidents in the first half of 2026, roughly eight attacks per day — and builds on political concern after the February killing of conductor Serkan Çalar.