This paper examines the public image of the police and two exemplary cases of police violence that raise the question of the extent to which such incidents undermine public trust in the police and the judiciary.
The police are an institution that plays a central role in society, as they are responsible for maintaining public safety and condemning injustice. This also includes crime investigation and prevention, for which police officers may also use force.
This results in a high responsibility for the police towards the population, which is, however, strongly dependent on the opinion of the citizens. The reason for this is that the police receive their legitimacy in particular through the consent of the population, just as is the case for institutions in democratic societies. Since it is not enough in democracies for the police to do their job effectively, the consent of the population is a decisive factor for the legitimacy of the police. It is important that the majority of the population believes that the police do their job in an acceptable manner. Thus, the opinion and trust of the population in the police are the central basis for a functioning relationship between society and the police on an equal footing.
Table of Contents
- 1 Introduction
- 2 Background story of Robert Peel and his famous statement
- 3 Current patterns of opinion of the German people towards the police and the performance of their work.
- 3.1 „The Quosay Khalaf case“ – an example of the increasing police violence within Germany?
- 3.1.1 The impact of cases like these – Is the public's trust in police work declining?
- 3.1 „The Quosay Khalaf case“ – an example of the increasing police violence within Germany?
- 4 Current patterns of opinion of the police with regard to their relationship with the German population
- 4.1 The case of the murdered police officers in Kusel – an example of rising violence against law enforcement officers in Germany?
- 4.1.1 The impact of cases like these – Is there a need for further protection measures for police officers in the future?
- 4.1 The case of the murdered police officers in Kusel – an example of rising violence against law enforcement officers in Germany?
- 5 Is there a connection between the growing mutual distrusts and the increasing propensity to violence among the parties?
- 6 Conclusion
- 7 Bibliography
Objective & Themes
This work fundamentally explores the evolving relationship between the police and the public in modern Germany. It aims to determine the extent to which Robert Peel's historical policing principles remain relevant today and to analyze how mutual distrust influences or hinders effective police work, proposing potential countermeasures for improvement.
- Analysis of public perception and trust in the police in Germany.
- Examination of the legitimacy of police institutions in democratic societies.
- Investigation into the impact of police misconduct and violence on public confidence.
- Discussion of rising violence against law enforcement officers.
- Exploration of the connection between mutual distrust and the propensity for violence.
- Consideration of measures for police reform, training, and citizen engagement.
Excerpt from the Book
3.1 „The Quosay Khalaf case“ – an example of the increasing police violence within Germany?
One of the most sensation cases of police violence in Germany is that of the 19-year-old Iraqi Qosay Khalaf. On March 5, 2021, he and a friend met at a bank in the wool park to smoke cannabis together (Buchen, 2021). They were surprised by two plainclothes policemen. Khalaf tried to escape from the park but was followed by one of the two police officers and finally overpowered in a nearby residential area (Buchen, 2021). From there, the 19-year-old was taken to the Delmenhorst Police Inspectorate where he was arrested (Buchen, 2021). But shortly after, barely two hours after meeting his friend in the park, he collapsed in police custody and lost consciousness (Buchen, 2021). Qosay Khalaf, who had come to Germany as a minor refugee from Iraq alone, died the next day in an Oldenburg hospital (Buchen, 2021). In the press release, the Oldenburg police painted a picture of an aggressive young man. The 19-year-old allegedly resisted arrest and hit a police officer "on the head with his fist" (Buchen, 2021).
However, an eyewitness reported a contrary representation, claiming that a police officer was kneeling on the back of the deceased, whose hands were handcuffed to his back (Buchen, 2021). He also mentioned that Khalaf complained several times of shortness of breath (Buchen, 2021). Despite that, the 19-year-old must have been forcibly fixed to the ground for more than 15 minutes until he was finally allowed to sit down with his hands still handcuffed behind his back (Buchen, 2021). Khalaf, although apparently unable to stand up on his own, was then taken to the police station where he fell into a coma.
Both versions remain controversial. While the public prosecutor in Oldenburg and the police president Johann Kühme agreed that “unlawful police violence, such as that which occurred during the arrest of George Floyd in the United States, is to be ruled out" in this case, there were soon voices that said that the authorities tried to rule out any guilt on the part of the officials involved (Buchen, 2021).
Since this incident, a social debate has arisen not only in Delmenhorst, but throughout Germany. The question arises as to why Qosay Khalaf had to die. The focus lies especially on the question of what proportionality is appropriate in the use of force by the police in dealing with the population, particularly young people, in the case of a minor offence, and what consequences have to be drawn for police work.
Summary of Chapters
1 Introduction: This chapter sets the stage by highlighting the central role of police in society, their responsibility, and their legitimacy stemming from public consent, introducing the core research questions.
2 Background story of Robert Peel and his famous statement: This section delves into the historical context of modern policing, detailing Sir Robert Peel's reforms in criminal law and the establishment of the Metropolitan Police, emphasizing his principles on police-public relations.
3 Current patterns of opinion of the German people towards the police and the performance of their work: This chapter examines the evolving public perception of the German police, noting increasing criticism, particularly among younger generations and those with migration backgrounds, despite generally high trust ratings.
3.1 „The Quosay Khalaf case“ – an example of the increasing police violence within Germany?: This sub-chapter presents a specific case of alleged police violence, involving the death of a young Iraqi refugee, to illustrate the contentious issues surrounding police use of force and trust in Germany.
3.1.1 The impact of cases like these – Is the public's trust in police work declining?: This sub-chapter discusses the broader implications of such incidents, focusing on the decline of public trust in the police, the issue of racial profiling, and potential reforms like independent complaint offices and officer training.
4 Current patterns of opinion of the police with regard to their relationship with the German population: This chapter shifts focus to the police's perspective, analyzing the increasing violence against law enforcement officers in Germany and its impact on their perception of the public.
4.1 The case of the murdered police officers in Kusel – an example of rising violence against law enforcement officers in Germany?: This sub-chapter details a recent case where two police officers were murdered during a traffic stop, sparking debate on officer protection and the underlying relationship between citizens and police.
4.1.1 The impact of cases like these – Is there a need for further protection measures for police officers in the future?: This sub-chapter explores proposed measures to protect police officers, including enhanced training, body-worn cameras, and early education for children, to foster respect and trust.
5 Is there a connection between the growing mutual distrusts and the increasing propensity to violence among the parties?: This chapter investigates the criminological link between mutual distrust and increased violence between citizens and police, drawing on the Procedural Justice Theory and factors like contact, age, ethnicity, and media consumption.
6 Conclusion: This chapter summarizes the findings, emphasizing the critical role of a good police-public relationship for a functioning society, the impact of distrust and media portrayal, and the need for police reform to restore legitimacy and trust.
Keywords
Police, public trust, Germany, police violence, Robert Peel, legitimacy, racial profiling, citizen-police relations, de-escalation, bodycams, mutual distrust, crime prevention, law enforcement, societal perception, police reform.
Frequently Asked Questions
What is this work fundamentally about?
This work fundamentally addresses the complex and often strained relationship between the police and the public in Germany, examining factors influencing trust, instances of violence, and proposals for reform to ensure effective and legitimate policing.
What are the central thematic areas?
The central thematic areas include the historical foundations of policing, current public opinion and trust in the German police, specific cases of police violence and violence against officers, and the mutual distrust contributing to conflict between the parties.
What is the primary objective or research question?
The primary objective is to evaluate the continued relevance of Robert Peel's policing principles in modern German police work and to determine how a disrupted police-public relationship affects police efficacy, ultimately seeking to identify necessary countermeasures.
Which scientific method is used?
The work primarily relies on an analytical review of existing studies, surveys, and criminological research, including the application of Procedural Justice Theory, to understand the dynamics of police-citizen interactions.
What is covered in the main part?
The main part covers the historical background of policing, current patterns of public and police opinion, detailed case studies of violence (e.g., Quosay Khalaf, Kusel), and an investigation into the connection between mutual distrust and increasing violence, supported by various academic sources.
Which keywords characterize the work?
The work is characterized by keywords such as police, public trust, Germany, police violence, Robert Peel, legitimacy, racial profiling, citizen-police relations, de-escalation, bodycams, mutual distrust, crime prevention, law enforcement, societal perception, and police reform.
How does the "Quosay Khalaf case" illustrate police violence in Germany?
The "Quosay Khalaf case" exemplifies incidents of alleged police violence and raises critical questions about the proportionality of force used by police, particularly concerning young people and minor offenses, sparking a national debate on police conduct and accountability.
What are the implications of the "Kusel case" for police protection measures?
The "Kusel case," involving the murder of two police officers during a routine traffic stop, highlights the urgent need for enhanced protection measures for law enforcement officers, prompting discussions on improved training, communication, de-escalation tactics, and the mandatory use of body-worn cameras.
How does Robert Peel's historical statement relate to modern policing challenges?
Robert Peel's famous statement, "the police are the public and the public are the police," remains critically important for successful police work, emphasizing that police derive legitimacy from public consent and must represent citizens, a principle often challenged by modern distrust and conflict.
What is the role of migration background and media consumption in public trust in the police?
The document shows that individuals with a migration background often exhibit lower trust in the police due to past experiences and perceived discrimination, while media consumption also influences trust, with tabloid reports and private news channels often correlated with lower public confidence.
- Quote paper
- Anonymous (Author), 2022, Does Robert Peels statement "The police are the public and the public are the police" still apply to the current situation in Germany?, Munich, GRIN Verlag, https://www.grin.com/document/1612583
