Schuster calls for police powers for drone attacks

Saxony's Interior Minister Armin Schuster (CDU) is calling for more powers for state police forces and the federal police to defend against drones used by "foreign state attackers". Until now, it has not been a police task to control military operations, said Schuster in Dresden, referring to attacks such as the recent one in Denmark. "But that is now the challenge. We can learn from the latest incidents."

Minister wants money for drone defense from the special fund

According to Schuster, three points are important in this challenge. "Firstly, it won't work without the state police forces, because they are present everywhere." If the police were to develop the ability to defend against such drones, the federal government would have to support this with funds from the military part of the special fund and help the states to acquire defense systems. This could not be financed from the budgets of the federal states.

Thinking about paramilitary police

In addition, the federal police must be enabled to provide administrative assistance to the federal states in this task. After all, they are present at neuralgic points such as borders, airports, train stations and the coast guard. For years, the question of whether Germany needed a paramilitary police force again - similar to the French gendarmerie - had not been an issue. "I think that needs to be reconsidered. Not just because of the drones."

Federal Armed Forces and Federal Police should provide administrative assistance to the federal states

Finally, the Federal Armed Forces must also be given the ability to provide administrative assistance to the federal states in the fight against drones. Due to the legal situation, it is currently only allowed to intervene where it is affected itself. "In my view, the Bundeswehr does not have to handle this task in peacetime. However, it should be able to provide support with its resources. The federal government must create a central office that can detect drones of this quality," said Schuster. The initiative by Federal Minister of the Interior Alexander Dobrindt (CSU) for networking in drone defense is absolutely right and should be debated in the National Security Council.