Plans to equip public order officers with tasers and batons in Brandenburg have sparked political debate, amid rising concerns over violence against public-facing workers in Germany.
The proposal, put forward by the CDU-led interior ministry in the eastern German state, would amend existing legislation to allow regulatory authority staff to carry defensive equipment. Interior Minister Jan Redmann said the move is a response to an increasingly tense security environment, with more attacks targeting individuals seen as representatives of the state, including transport staff, police, and local authority employees.
CDU lawmaker Rainer Genilke said modern tools and “reliable technical support” are necessary to ensure their safety and improve deterrence. Authorities insist the devices are not intended for offensive use but rather as protective measures.
However, the proposal has faced strong opposition. The Social Democrats has rejected the plan, warning it could blur the line between police and regulatory authorities. Deputy chairman Erik Stohn argued that equipping staff with tasers would undermine the state’s monopoly on the use of force, suggesting alternatives such as body cameras and stab-proof vests instead.
Trade unions and local officials have also voiced concerns, stressing that tasers are classified as weapons and require specialised training and legal authorisation typically reserved for police forces.
A similar pattern is emerging beyond public administration. Violence in schools has also risen sharply, with German police recording 1,283 cases of intentional bodily harm against teachers in 2024—the highest level in at least a decade. More serious offences have also increased; police recorded 557 cases of violent crime against teachers—including robbery and serious or dangerous bodily harm—up from 477 the previous year and just 268 in 2015.
