Federal Police (Germany) - Missions

Missions

The BPOL has the following missions:

• border security, (Grenzpolizei or Grepo) to include passport control and the provision of coast guard services along Germany's 700 km coasts.
• protection of federal buildings of constitutional organs like Schloss Bellevue, the residence of the German Bundespräsident; they also protect the two highest German courts, both in Karlsruhe:
  • the Federal Constitutional Court of Germany (Bundesverfassungsgericht) and
  • the Federal Court of Justice of Germany (Bundesgerichtshof)
• providing the federal government's mobile response force for internal security events,
• providing transportation security at international airports and on the German railways
• provides counter-terrorism forces (GSG 9).
• provides air (or sky) marshals.
• supports international police missions for the UN and EU in Kosovo, Sudan, Liberia, Afghanistan, The Gaza Strip, Moldova and Georgia.
• document adviser for airlines around the world
• provides in-house security for German embassies in several countries
• It is one of several civil organisations providing rescue helicopter service.

The Bundespolizei can also be used to reinforce state police if requested to do so by a state (Land) government. The BPOL maintains these reserve forces to deal with major demonstrations, disturbances or emergencies to supplement the capabilities of the State Operational Support Units. Several highly trained detachments are available for crisis situations requiring armored cars, water cannon or other special equipment.

The BPOL has investigators who conducts criminal investigations only within its jurisdiction; otherwise the cases are referred to the appropriate state police force or to the federal criminal investigative agency, the Federal Criminal Police (Bundeskriminalamt, BKA).

In addition, the Bundespolizei cooperates closely with German state executive authorities such as the Prosecutor's Offices called Staatsanwaltschaft in pursuing criminal investigations.