Protection Division
The protection of the members of the constitutional organs of the Federation is a legally prescribed task of the Bundeskriminalamt.
This task, which is fulfilled by the Protection Division (SG) based in Berlin, comprises the personal protection of the Federal President, members of the Federal Parliament and the Federal Council, the Federal Constitutional Court, the Federal Government and – in special cases – their foreign guests as well as the interior protection of their offices, residences and any other rooms occupied by them.
The range of duties is wide and, depending on the threat level of the protectee, includes the incident-related or permanent personal protection, the ascertainment and supervision of threat hot-spots, the reconnaissance of land and air routes or providing advice on the technical security of residential or office buildings.
The use of modern technical means, such as armoured vehicles, weapons or special information and communications technology, are indispensable for the performance of the tasks.
In execution of the required measures, the Protection Division cooperates closely with the police authorities of the Federal States, the Federal Police, the Police and Security Service of the German Federal Parliament and foreign security services.
At the request of the Office of Foreign Affairs, the Bundeskriminalamt also despatches federal and state law-enforcement officers to German diplomatic missions abroad. There, they guarantee the personal protection of those representatives of the Federal Republic of Germany classed as threatened.
To date, approximately 775 police officers have carried out personal protection measures at a total of 49 German diplomatic missions abroad (as per October 2007).