Posted by The police have a monopoly of force by law. It is authorized to question and search people and, under certain circumstances, even to exercise physical violence. The rights of police officers are however clearly limited. But which offenses count as a criminal offense? What are the consequences of guilty police officers? What can people who have been victims of police violence do? And what happens in the opposite case – when police officers are wrongly accused?
What can the police do – and what not?
Control of pedestrians. When inspecting pedestrians, police officers have the right to establish an identity . Accordingly, they are allowed to request identification. An identity check or search of unsuspecting persons within the meaning of Section 103 of the Code of Criminal Procedure (StPO) is only permitted if there are indications that the search contributes to the apprehension of a suspect or to securing evidence. Searching the accused is also permitted in accordance with Section 102 of the Code of Criminal Procedure if there are indications that the suspect has committed a criminal offense.
Control of vehicle drivers. This includes all vehicle drivers from private to public vehicles including service vehicles like towing service San Jose. Vehicle drivers can be subjected to general traffic control in accordance with Section 36 (5) of the Road Traffic Act (StVO). Police officers are allowed to:
Ask people to stop and leave the vehicle. Require ID, driver’s license, and the part I registration certificate check whether the first aid kit and warning triangle are present. However, you may not search the vehicle for no reason or carry out the so-called Romberg test.
Physical examinations as per judge approval. Taking blood and urine or sweat tests is a serious invasion of physical integrity. These examinations may only be carried out on one suspect and require the approval of a judge. Only in the case of “ imminent danger ” can police officers decide to physically examine a person without judicial approval. There is an imminent danger if the officers have to react immediately, for example, to be able to prove that a person was under the influence of alcohol or drugs at the said time.
Police Misconduct: Consequences and Possible Penalties
Searching unsuspicious persons without their consent constitutes the offense of persecution of innocent persons ( Section 344 of the Criminal Code ). He is punished with a prison sentence of three months to five years.
Performing a physical examination without risk of delay and with the consent of the person concerned is considered bodily harm in office according to Section 340 StGB and is punishable by a fine or imprisonment of up to five years.
In addition to prosecution, police officers also face disciplinary action in these cases. If facts become known that suggest a suspicion of an official offense, the superior initiate disciplinary proceedings. If the civil servant has demonstrably violated the duties incumbent on him (see Section 77 (1) of the Federal Civil Servants Act ), there is a risk – depending on the severity of the offense – an official reprimand, a fine, or even removal from service with the subsequent withdrawal of the pension.
Administrative offenses or criminal offenses in the service versus private
According to Article 3 of the Basic Law, all people are equal before the law. However, if a police officer on duty fulfills the requirements of criminal law, he can initially refer to the legal bases of the police laws and the code of criminal procedure. Under certain circumstances, these police authorization norms lead to a justification of his actions – and thus to impunity. Such a justification is given, for example, when police officers themselves are victims of violence. In this case, they are authorized in accordance with Section 32 of the Criminal Code to undertake a defense action required to avert danger. Depending on the situation, this can also include physical violence. In addition, the application is immediate coercion permissible, provided this is necessary to enforce an informal police measure – for example, a dismissal.
However, if a police officer fulfills the offense of criminal law without justification, the offense will be prosecuted by the public prosecutor – as with any other citizen. But: Many special norms, such as Section 340 of the Criminal Code, make criminal offenses during working hours subject to a higher penalty than would be imposed for offenses outside working hours. In addition, disciplinary proceedings are initiated in the event of criminal offenses on duty, which may have consequences for the civil servant’s career.
Crimes and administrative offenses that police officers commit in their private leisure time are prosecuted and punished just like any other citizen. However, if there is a connection between the act committed and the duties associated with the office of the police officer, disciplinary proceedings will also be initiated.
What can victims of police violence do?
In many countries, there is no independent complaints office to report misconduct by police officers. Those affected can only file a report with the local police station or the responsible public prosecutor’s office. The report should be made in cooperation with an experienced legal advisor.
A reliable private legal protection insurance will help you find a competent lawyer. In addition, those affected are free to file a supervisory complaint against the police officer (s) with the responsible police station. This is checked and, in the event of an urgent suspicion, leads to the initiation of investigative procedures.
False accusation of police violence – what are the possible consequences?
The events of New Year’s Eve in 2015 in Cologne and the events at the G20 summit in Hamburg show: Again and again, participants in public events raise serious allegations against police officers. When clarifying the question of guilt, however, there is often a lack of credible statements from witnesses and injured parties. Viewing existing video material only occasionally helps to clarify the situation. Many of the recordings show the act, but not the context that led to it – and thus possible reasons for justification, which have relief for police officers in the event of an investigation. Do police officers still face consequences if they are wrongly accused of a crime? What punishment should injured parties expect if they knowingly wrongly suspect police officers?
If it turns out in the course of the investigation that the charge of a criminal offense was not justified in the office, officials have nothing to fear. For them, an investigation that has been suspended due to a lack of evidence has no legal or official consequences.
It is important for police officers to have reliable private legal protection insurance with extended criminal legal protection for the defense against alleged offenses.
However, anyone who accuses police officers of a crime against their better knowledge – that is, deliberately lying – and reports this to the police or the public prosecutor’s office, makes himself a criminal offense under Section 164 of the Criminal Code. Prerequisite: The offender acts with the intention of bringing about official proceedings or other official measures, such as a house search, against the accused police officer (s). The possible sentences range from a fine to five years in prison.
If the suspicion was recorded as a supervisory complaint, it will – if disciplinary proceedings are pending – be entered in the personnel file, but according to Section 112 (1) sentence 1 BBG, federal officials are entitled to have this removed as soon as the Accusation turns out to be untrue.