Investing 1 billion funds into the police force of North Rhine-Westphalia for battling rodents and mold issues
North Rhine-Westphalia (NRW) police stations are experiencing a mixed picture in terms of funding, equipment, and overall state.
Funding and Spending
There is controversy surrounding spending within NRW police departments. For instance, the police spent approximately €4.66 million on an "innovation lab" in Duisburg, initially budgeted at €250,000. This extravagant spending includes a €35,000 kitchen renovation, a €14,600 coffee machine, and two chairs costing €6,000 each. This expenditure has been criticised by the NRW audit office for lack of proper economic analysis and documentation. However, police officials defend the expenses as necessary for integration and operational needs.
Equipment Upgrades
Despite the controversy, several police stations, including the Paderborn district police authority, have been equipped with advanced gear such as Tasers for guard duty. Eleven police stations received Tasers, alongside five police headquarters, indicating a modernization effort in non-lethal weaponry.
Technological Advancements
NRW police have been involved in cutting-edge projects such as the "IDAS-PRO" drone defense system, developed collaboratively with multiple law enforcement agencies across Germany. This system aims to detect and defend against drones, enhancing police capability to secure critical infrastructure and respond to technological threats.
Condition and Operations
While there is no explicit mention of dilapidated or poor physical condition of police stations, the focus on a costly innovation lab suggests investment in modern facilities, albeit with contention about spending priorities. The police also actively engage in operational measures against crime, as evidenced by public warnings regarding scams impersonating police officers.
The Police Union's Perspective
The Police Union in NRW has expressed concern over the condition of many police properties. According to the Union, many of the approximately 850 police properties were built in the late 1970s and throughout the 1980s. The Landesvorsitzender Schlueter expressed the need for significantly higher investments from the state, citing the police station in Wuppertal as an example of a dilapidated station.
The Union has reported hundreds of dilapidated police stations across Germany. The main service building of the police in Paderborn has intolerable conditions, with water in the basement and rats coming out of the toilets. Similarly, the police station in Kempen, in the district of Viersen, has issues with burst and clogged pipes, a defective locking system, and doors.
State Investments and Improvements
In response to these concerns, NRW Interior Minister Herbert Reul has announced a plan to invest more than a billion euros in the renovation of dilapidated police buildings or new construction. A new building is planned for the older building in Duisburg. Erich Rettinghaus, the Landesvorsitzender of the Deutsche Polizeigewerkschaft, named Kreis Mettmann, Düsseldorf, Rhein-Erft district, Espelkamp, Versmold, Ibbenbüren, Bonn city center, Bad Godesberg, Meckenheim, and Rheinbach as locations with modernized or new watchtowers.
As of August 12, 2025, the future of NRW police stations remains uncertain, with investments in innovative infrastructure and equipment upgrades being met with critical scrutiny over financial management and spending justification. A future report on this topic is expected on the website television: Current Hour, 6:45 PM on 12.08.2025.
[1] [dpa, 08.08.2025] [2] [interview with NRW Interior Minister Herbert Reul, 08.08.2025] [3] [interview with GdP state chairman Patrick Schlüter, 08.08.2025] [4] [interview with DPolG state chairman Erich Rettinghaus, 08.08.2025] [5] [Munich Mercury, Tuesday edition, 10.08.2025]
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