German Federal Police is authorized to conduct identity checks on the basis of a person’s appearance

Alert DateFebruary 28, 2012 Country: Germany General Type: Institutional discrimination Racism and discrimination phenomena: Anti-migrant/xenophobia
Groups affected / Interested in: Migrants, Refugees, Roma & Travelers, Ethnic minorities, Asylum seekers, Africans/black people Key socio-economic/institutional areas: Policing - law enforcement
Victims Data
Victims Nationality/Ethnic Origin N/A
Victims Gender N/A
Victims Age N/A
Victims Number N/A
Fatalities - deaths N/A
Perpetrators Data
Perpetrators Nationality/Ethnic Origin N/A
Perpetrator Gender N/A
Perpetrator Age N/A
Perpetrators Number N/A
Extremist/Organised Group Violence No

 In the course of an identity check on a train an argument started between the train passenger and two police officers who requested the passenger to identify himself.
Later, the Administrative Court Coblenz passed a highly controversial judgement. On 28 February 2012, the court decided that the German Federal Police are allowed to conduct personal identity checks without a concrete suspicion. On grounds of efficiency and capacity, the police controls are limited to random checks. Therefore, the police are authorized to select persons for identity check on grounds of appearance. Thus, identity check due to skin colour is permitted according to the court decision as it is seen as minor intervention (document number (Aktenzeichen): 5 K 1026/11.KO). This proceeding is particularly tolerated on train routes which are well known for illegal entry of foreigners to Germany.

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