Right-wing network sparks calls for closer supervision of German police

Following investigations into five police officers over forming a right-wing radical network, many politicians in Germany have called for closer supervision of the police forces on Wednesday.

Konstantin von Notz, deputy parliamentary leader of the green party, called for a "social and political effort" against right-wing extremism. Von Notz told the funke media group that supervisor positions should be introduced "so that police officers can anonymously report such developments at an early stage".

On Monday, the state office of criminal investigations (LKA) and the public prosecutor's office in Frankfurt launched investigations into five police officers for the incitement to hatred as well as the use of symbols of unconstitutional organizations.

The five police officers are believed to have exchanged right-wing extremist and racist images, videos and content in a WhatsApp chat group.

Oliver Malchow, federal chairman of the German police trade union (GdP), acknowledged in an interview with the Passauer Neue Presse on Wednesday that many police officers who had sworn on the constitution had "secretly radicalized themselves".

Mecklenburg-Western Pomerania's interior minister Lorenz Caffier called for stricter surveillance measures of encrypted messenger services. Until now, the German police had only been allowed to look into chat messages if there was a serious danger to life or the freedom of individuals.

"We need the legal prerequisites to be able to read in all areas in case of suspicion," Caffier told the RedaktionsNetzwerk Deutschland (RND).