Rhineland-Palatinate courts test Tasers and body armour for officer safety
Courts in Rhineland-Palatinate are set to receive extra protection as part of a new security push. Justice Minister Philipp Fernis (FDP) has announced plans to test Tasers for court officers, alongside stab-resistant body armour. The measures come as part of a wider effort to improve safety during high-risk legal proceedings. Currently, court officers in the state already carry batons and pepper spray. Now, two mobile response teams will trial Tasers in a pilot phase. Each team, made up of eight officers, will be based at the Higher Regional Courts in Koblenz and Zweibrücken.
The Justice Ministry will use this period to create clear guidelines for Taser use. Beyond the pilot, other courts can request these specialised units for support when dealing with dangerous situations.
New stab-resistant body armour is also being rolled out to staff. The equipment is designed to be worn discreetly under clothing, adding another layer of protection for those working in potentially volatile environments. The pilot phase marks a step toward stronger security in Rhineland-Palatinate’s courts. If successful, the use of Tasers could expand, alongside existing measures like batons and pepper spray. The ministry’s guidelines will determine how and when the devices are deployed in future.
Read also:
- American teenagers taking up farming roles previously filled by immigrants, a concept revisited from 1965's labor market shift.
- Weekly affairs in the German Federal Parliament (Bundestag)
- Landslide claims seven lives, injures six individuals while they work to restore a water channel in the northern region of Pakistan
- Escalating conflict in Sudan has prompted the United Nations to announce a critical gender crisis, highlighting the disproportionate impact of the ongoing violence on women and girls.
