Victims rights with the police
The police should prioritise their safety and well-being as victims and respect their rights and concerns. The police are responsible for ensuring public order and safety and preventing and investigating crime.
In cases of domestic violence, the police can help with accommodation in a shelter or with child protection measures, record a criminal complaint, provide information on protection orders and safety planning or document the risk of danger.
The cooperation of the police with support organisations and the health and social sector plays a central role in providing the necessary help for those affected.
If the police become aware of domestic violence, they are obliged to file a complaint and investigate, even if the victims do not want this because it is an official offence.
Of course, you can also file a complaint as the victim, which must then be investigated. You can do this either directly with police officers, at a police station or online.
The police can inform the victim about protection orders such as contact or proximity bans and the removal of the perpetrator of violence from the home.
When the police carry out a risk assessment, the results should be documented and treated confidentially. If victims are in contact with other support organisations, they should be involved in this process.
The pro-active programme means that the police, with the consent of the person concerned, make contact with counselling services so that they can then get in touch with the person concerned.
It is also important that the police informs victims about shelters and help them find a place if necessary.
In the case of visible physical injuries or after sexual violence, the police can arrange for forensic documentation of the injuries and traces in forensic medicine or a central emergency room if the person concerned agrees.
After police interventions in cases of domestic violence, if there are children in the household, the police routinely inform the youth welfare office (Jugendamt) because it can be assumed that the welfare of the child is at risk. The youth welfare office then contacts the people involved.
Those affected should be supported in protecting their personal data and informed about the risks of digital stalking and cyberstalking. The police can provide support in checking the security of digital devices.
Another measure is to encourage perpetrators to seek help immediately in order to put an end to domestic violence.
