Important to know
What are the police allowed to do in "dangerous places"?
- Check ID documents
- Search persons and their belongings
- If identity cannot be established: take person to a police station
- If items carried are considered dangerous: confiscate items
What are affected people allowed to do?
- Ask for the legal basis and the reason for the control
- Request a search only by persons of the same sex
- Demand that the police officers give their names, service numbers or precincts
- Refuse to make a statement. Only the following information must be provided: Name, date of birth, place of birth, nationality and registration address
- Do not make any cash payments!
- DO NOT SIGN ANYTHING! (Police often urge to waive objection or appeal)
- Object to the measure and demand that the police document the objection
- In case of arrest: demand the right to contact a lawyer, a confidant and an interpreter
What can I do after a control?
- Memory log: Write down as precisely as possible what happened
- In case of physical violence: Have a medical examination and confirmation of injuries as soon as possible
Seek support and get advice on your options, such as:
- File an appeal
- File a complaint
- Press criminal charges - get advice BEFORE!
- Counseling centers: Contacts below
What can I do if I become a witness?
- It is important what the affected person needs and wants. Ask for it!
- Contact the affected person and offer support: Is interpretation needed? Should a confidant be informed?
- Ask the police about the legal basis for their actions and point out the prohibition of discriminatory controls (racial profiling).
- Ask the police for name and service number
- Collect contacts from other witnesses
- Document the course of the check
- After the control: exchange contact details with the affected person
- Report incident (anonymously)
Contact
Have you experienced or observed discrimination or violence by the police? Get information and support here.
The counseling services are confidential, free of charge and, if desired, anonymous. Please feel free to contact one of the two contact points listed below:
Antidiskriminierungsbüro Sachsen e.V.
Regionalstelle Chemnitz
Jakobikirchplatz 2
09111 Chemnitz
www.adb-sachsen.de
chemnitz@adb-sachsen.de
0371.43 30 84 61
Beratungsstelle Support
des RAA Sachsen e.V.
Henriettenstraße 5
09112 Chemnitz