Berlin Court Rules Police Groin Grab Against Climate Activist Unlawful
A Berlin court has ruled that a groin grab used by police against a climate activist was unlawful. The decision follows the release of a 2020 training manual detailing controversial control techniques. Campaigners argue the methods amount to excessive force and demand greater transparency.
The manual, obtained by transparency group FragDenStaat, describes targeted pressure point manipulations—including groin grabs, jaw grips, and neck muscle grabs. Police maintain these are control holds, not pain compliance techniques, but the court's ruling has reignited debate over their use.
In 2020, the Berlin Police published a training manual titled Police Operational Training, Part 3: Situational Self-Defense. Chapter 3.4.3, Pressure Point and Pressure Techniques, instructed officers in methods to subdue suspects by targeting nerves and joints. The document listed specific techniques such as groin grabs, jaw grips, and neck muscle manipulations to overcome resistance during protests.
FragDenStaat obtained the manual in 2023 after filing freedom of information requests. The group argues that such techniques should face public scrutiny, particularly when used during demonstrations. Police have confirmed the manual's authenticity but insist the methods are not pain compliance tactics—merely control holds exploiting nerve pressure points. Despite the manual's existence, Berlin police have repeatedly denied training pain compliance techniques. The recent court ruling, however, found that a groin grab used against a climate activist violated regulations. This contradiction has raised questions about the force's transparency and the legality of its training practices.
The court's decision highlights tensions between police training methods and legal standards for use of force. With the manual now public, calls for oversight of protest policing have grown louder. The ruling sets a precedent that could affect how similar cases are judged in future.
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