Growing concerns over safety in and around Germany’s train stations have prompted fresh calls for more police presence and stricter security measures. The German District Association (Deutscher Landkreistag) and the Police Union (GdP) have jointly voiced support for expanding law enforcement and improving infrastructure to ensure public safety.
“The security in and around train stations is not a problem to be underestimated,” said Achim Brötel, President of the German County Association, in an interview with the Funke newspapers on Monday. “The public has given us a clear mandate to take action here.” Brötel emphasized that police visibility is vital to maintaining people’s sense of safety and urged Deutsche Bahn to invest more in both maintenance and security systems.
The renewed focus on station security follows remarks by Chancellor Friedrich Merz (CDU), who linked visible social disorder in cities to migration-related challenges. His statements reignited a national debate on urban safety, prompting reactions from across the political spectrum and from police organizations. The Police Union (GdP) demanded increased patrols and stronger enforcement capabilities. “Especially at large train stations in city centers, it is becoming increasingly dangerous, also for our colleagues,” said Andreas Roßkopf, GdP’s chairman responsible for the Federal Police, in comments to the Redaktionsnetzwerk Deutschland (RND).
Jens Spahn, leader of the Union parliamentary group, defended Merz’s remarks, noting that in some public areas such as markets and stations, “we see neglect,” and warned that growing crime makes certain neighborhoods unsafe for women, Jewish citizens, and LGBTQ+ people. From the Green Party, parliamentary leader Felix Banaszak acknowledged the need for more officers at key locations but urged a broader state presence, saying that strengthening social work is equally important to prevent potential conflicts before they escalate.
Federal Interior Minister Alexander Dobrindt (CSU) announced that the government plans to conduct more targeted police operations in inner cities and at train stations. “Our city centers must remain places of encounter, not of threat,” Dobrindt told the Rheinische Post. “That requires police, presence, and prevention ,especially at train stations.”
Roßkopf of the GdP also called for expanded authority under the upcoming Federal Police Act, including the right to conduct identity checks without specific suspicion, provided the principle of proportionality is maintained. “We must remain fully operational as police to ensure security in our country,” he said.
The Pro Bahn passenger association urged authorities to address issues such as drug use, homelessness, and aggressive behavior in and around stations, which make passengers, especially women, feel unsafe during evening travel. “More police patrols and staff would improve the situation,” said association chairman Detlef Neuß.
Meanwhile, the Association of German Criminal Investigators (BDK) suggested technological upgrades, including AI-assisted surveillance systems to identify dangerous situations or unattended luggage. BDK chairman Dirk Peglow clarified that such technology should not include real-time facial recognition but instead be used for legally controlled applications, such as locating missing persons or preventing terrorist threats.
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