The research project KviAPol ("Police use of excessive force") is funded by the German Research Foundation (DFG) and has been investigating police use of force and its prosecution in Germany since 2018. The results of the project have been published in two interim reports (2019, 2020), as well as in the book "Gewalt im Amt" (2023) and in numerous other publications.
Final Results
Our findings are now also available in English.
"Police Use of Excessive Force in Germany"
Excessive use of force by police officers in Germany has only been investigated to a limited extent to date. This book provides comprehensive scientific findings on relevant situations and how they are dealt with under criminal law. Based on a survey of victims with over 3,300 participants and more than 60 qualitative interviews, the cases are presented as complex interactions in which the police's special power of definition becomes apparent.
Our Interim Reports
Both of our interim reports as well as their executive summaries are available in English.
First Interim Report:
"Victims’ perspectives on police violence"
2nd edition, 26 October 2020
Second Interim Report:
"Experiencing racism and discrimination in the context of the use of force by the police"
11 November 2020