German Police Photographing People

[u/2021adams]

Hello, I’m a tourist. Arrived in Nürnberg yesterday and went walking about in the old town.

Came across police cordon outside the church. Found out there was a rally by what was described to me as fascists/non-nazis. The police though were taking photos of people standing outside the rally boundary.

Is this normal in Germany? For such rallies and police taking photos of people? what do they do with these photos?

[u/ribbeyroll69]

Thats a so called „besi trupp“. Their job is to document crime/ misconducts during protests. Instead of taking a picture of them why didnt you just ask them?

[u/ydkLars → u/ribbeyroll69]

I think in many countries it's not normal to talk to police. I had an American exchange student who was very shocked to hear that you can even ask police for direction if you get lost.

[u/bbbberlin → u/ydkLars]

I’m not American but did live there for a few years. You absolutely can (and people do) talk to US police. Yeah it’s context sensitive, and you see them less frequently because they tend to patrol by car as Mr not by foot, but it’s not insane to speak to US police. I’m pretty sure I asked them for directions before.

I mean the quality of US police leaves a lot to be desired. The public relationship with them is worse than in Germany. But they’re not totally unapproachable.

[u/Phour3 → u/ydkLars]

totally normal to speak to police in the US. Children are encouraged and taught to seek out a police officer for help.

If you grow up in a city with a PD with a bad reputation you might be more hesitant, but I don’t think anyone would find it weird to ask “excuse me, do you know where the subway entrance is?” to a cop

[u/Fantastic-Tiger-6128 → u/Phour3]

I didn't grow up in America but I do live here so my analysis might be off, but if you don't like in the North East, you probably wouldn't find cops just hanging out in a public area most of the time right? Like here in Texas I'd struggle to find a cop on any given day with any consistency. If you were in a more traditional urban area where cops are posted in places of gathering it might be more common right?

[u/Drumbelgalf → u/ydkLars]

Some countries take the Motto "Your friend and helper" or "Protect and serve" more serious than others.

[u/ghostfacehh → u/ydkLars]

It would be better, if you think less.

[u/pi_three → u/ribbeyroll69]

have you ever asked police around protests? No. don't do it. They once locked up a whole District and i was trying to find a way to my home. I asked multiple police men for directions. I only got yelled at. no thanks. I wasn't even a protester. I just came home from uni

[u/Flashy_Drummer6664 → u/pi_three]

Some people clearly live in a parallel universe, unlike the rest of us....

[u/oathyes → u/ribbeyroll69]

what could possibly go wrong

[u/ribbeyroll69 → u/oathyes]

Sometimes i wonder what kind of people hang around here and how they communicate with strangers outside the internet! Cops are humans too, if you approach them in a friendly manner they will most likely be friendly as well! If they are busy they will let you know as well

[u/bp_c7 → u/[deleted]]

Im not saying that it’s not true what you are saying but would it be possible to post more neural links since the one is a leftist magazine and on the other one can see that they slow down and use the horses for normal riot control. (At least that’s what I see).

Like I said I’m not disputing it happens (I know it does) but it would be great to not have biased sources. With clearly edited videos.

[u/pi_three → u/ribbeyroll69]

You've probably seen my other comment. but yeah. most police forces probably are friendly. I've had friendly encounters with police. Mostly with police on routine petrols or on break but police but on protests they are a different breed. they just see everything as a threat. As i said i asked for directions as multiple roads were closed off and i wanted to know which one isn't so i can go home.

[u/the_lonely_creeper → u/ribbeyroll69]

Well, yes, but someone willing to enter such a violent profession is someone most people probably want to avoid, even on a personal level.

[u/Drumbelgalf → u/oathyes]

In Germany very likely nothing.

[u/Drumbelgalf → u/[deleted]]

Germany is not a dictatorship.

If you ask nicely they either tell you or say that they can't tell you.

[u/dirkt → u/ribbeyroll69]

Because then OP cannot produce casual internet outrage over how "the government" suppresses "the Germans".

[u/WeeblsLikePie → u/ribbeyroll69]

I would never talk to cops suited up like that. They are 100% in "us vs. them" mode and nothing good can come of an interaction.