Some 250 German police officers are currently deployed as part of international police missions. They include police officers from the federal police force, the police forces of the individual federal states and customs officers. They advise, support and train local police forces, helping the authorities of the country to make their land safer and more secure again.

Preventing crises, building peace

Seconding peace missions to conflict-affected areas is a crucially important way for the international community of preventing crises, transforming violent conflicts, and building international peace. Germany is involved in a large number of missions led by the United Nations, the European Union and the Organization for Co-operation and Security in Europe (OSCE). They include the German Police Project Team (GPPT) in Afghanistan and operations at the EU’s external borders that are coordinated by Frontex.

Since 1989, more than 9,500 police officers have taken part in about 40 mandated peace missions, the German Police Project Team in Afghanistan, and since November 2015 in Frontex-coordinated operations at the EU’s external borders.

Strong commitment in 2017

As in 2016, Africa was a focus of Germany’s engagement in 2017. German police officers served in Mali, Niger, Sudan, Libya, Liberia and Somalia. Assignments in the Palestinian territories, Ukraine, Kosovo, Georgia and Haiti were also continued.

Over and above this, Germany has played an active part in a civilian EU advisory mission in Iraq since the end of 2017. The goal is to support the reform of the civilian security sector. Now that the terrorist organisation "Islamic State" has been largely driven out of Iraq, the focus is on restoring order and security. This requires an effective police force that operates in line with rule-of-law principles. Germany is advising the Iraqi security forces on the establishment of a police force of this sort. The mission is headed by a German federal police officer.

Stepping up human resources for foreign missions

In November 2018, EU defence and foreign affairs ministers adopted the civilian Common Security and Defence Policy (CSDP) compact. Germany has pledged to provide more personnel and more funding for civilian EU missions. At international level too, Germany intends to second more police officers. In its capacity as a member of the United Nations Security Council in 2019/2020, Germany aims to step up the role and the work of the police as an important element in international peace policy.

The deployment of German police officers remains a major, high-profile and active part of Germany’s foreign and security policy. It makes an important contribution to ensuring security within Germany and beyond the country’s borders. In the coalition agreement too, the German government affirms its commitment to stepping up Germany’s engagement in international police missions. To strengthen Germany’s engagement, and attract more police officers to international police missions, a common pool is to be established at national and state levels.