Berlin police are deploying a significantly reinforced security operation for New Year’s Eve amid fears of renewed violence and attacks on emergency services.
Police Chief Barbara Slowik Meisel said that around 4,300 officers will be on duty across the capital on the night of December 31st, compared with roughly 1,000 on a normal night.
As part of preventative measures, police have already carried out ‘risk address’ meetings with 87 individuals who had previously attracted attention during New Year celebrations.
Officers have also seized more than 147,000 fireworks, conducted commercial inspections, and opened criminal investigations.
Several firework exclusion zones will be in force on the night itself. Some areas will be cordoned off with barriers, while others will remain accessible but under close police supervision. Authorities also plan to use preventative detention powers to temporarily remove repeat troublemakers from the streets in order to stop incidents before they occur.
The German Police Union (GdP) has also expressed concern about targeted violence against officers. Its federal chairman, Jochen Kopelke, said the belief that offenders would not be held accountable encouraged criminal behaviour, making the situation dangerous and unpredictable for police.
In recent years, Berlin and other cities have seen serious disturbances on New Year’s Eve, including attacks on police and firefighters, injuries to officers and significant property damage. Most of the suspects have been migrants or Germans with a migrant background.
