Enhanced surveillance equipment for law enforcement: Call for expanded authorities - Surveillance equipment, specifically body cameras and related devices.
In a move aimed at enhancing transparency and security, the Lower Saxony police are set to adopt new technologies as part of a broader trend in Germany. The red-green state government has announced plans to introduce bodycams, ankle monitors, drones, and AI video surveillance as part of their efforts to combat crime and terrorism more effectively.
According to Interior Minister Daniela Behrens (SPD), the demands on security authorities have significantly increased and intensified in recent years. As a response, the Lower Saxony police will be equipped with bodycams to make deployment situations more transparent. Police officers will activate bodycams when they use or threaten the use of force, and an automated system will be introduced that activates bodycams as soon as a police officer draws their firearm.
In addition to bodycams, the use of ankle monitors will be allowed in cases of domestic violence with a court order, aiming to warn victims and prevent further attacks. The reform does not make it mandatory for police officers to wear bodycams during deployment, but it does allow for their use in apartments.
The Lower Saxony police will also be allowed to use drones for observing large-scale deployments, and the reform aims to clarify the legal basis for their use in daily operations. The constitutional protection report indicates almost daily unauthorized drone overflights, and this technology could help prevent terrorist threats, find victims of kidnapping, human trafficking, or sexual exploitation, as well as missing persons in Lower Saxony.
The red-green government also plans to enable real-time recognition and identification of criminal offenses in video recordings and to allow live comparison of biometric data for the identification of certain persons in video recordings. The plans do not include making it mandatory for police officers to wear bodycams during deployment.
However, specific regional legislation changes in Lower Saxony are not explicitly detailed in the available sources. Nationwide, telecommunications and IT system surveillance have significantly increased with law enforcement agencies obtaining more authorizations to infiltrate smartphones and computers using state trojans to intercept data. This indicates a continuous expansion of police surveillance powers, likely impacting practices in Lower Saxony as part of federal jurisdiction.
In summary, Lower Saxony police are part of a broader German trend toward expanding surveillance capabilities using digital and AI technologies. The number of attempted or completed homicides in Lower Saxony occurs approximately every four to five days, according to statistics. Minister Behrens stated that, even in Lower Saxony, the home remains the most dangerous place for women. The new law in Lower Saxony will regulate how the police can defend against illegally flying drones, such as over military facilities or critical infrastructure. These developments underscore the government's commitment to ensuring the safety and security of its citizens.
[1] Source: Federal Office for the Protection of the Constitution (BfV) Annual Report 2023 [2] Source: German IT Security Association (Teletrust) Annual Report 2025 [3] Source: German Police University (Polizei-Akademie) Innovation Forum 2025
Read also:
- Stratospheric Blockchain Network Launched by World Mobile and Protelindo
- Airbus is pushing the boundaries in the field of eco-friendly jet fuel production
- Two Aspects I Adore in the Lexus LFR, Alongside One Concern That Troubles Me
- Powerful! If Virtual Racing Characters Represented Real-Life Supercars, the Mighty Bugatti Mistral Would Be the Game's Final Challenger
