Overview
- Physical assaults on police, fire, rescue services or bailiffs would carry a minimum of six months in prison, up from three months, under the Justice Ministry draft.
- Ambush attacks on responders would draw at least one year in prison, doubling the current minimum for such offenses.
- The proposal extends comparable penalties to attacks on doctors, nurses and other medical staff beyond emergency settings, and it envisions tougher sentencing when crimes impair activities serving the public good.
- Volunteers and local politicians would receive stronger protection against intimidation and violence, with judges guided to impose stiffer penalties in such cases.
- New BKA figures cite 46,367 attacks on police in 2024 (up 0.3% year over year), 106,875 police victims (up 1.1%), and 2,916 victims among other helpers, as Interior Minister Alexander Dobrindt backs a law to toughen penalties and the BDK police union welcomes the push while urging swift, consistent prosecutions.