(de-news.net) – Sonja Eichwede, the SPD Bundestag spokeswoman for legal policy, has strongly condemned the recent attacks on emergency personnel during New Year’s Eve celebrations, emphasizing the critical need for the rule of law to respond decisively and consistently. In multiple cities, police officers and first responders were targeted, and Eichwede highlighted that the governing coalition was unified in regarding such assaults as particularly reprehensible. She argued, however, that merely increasing penalties would be insufficient to deter offenders, advocating instead for additional judges and expanded court staffing to ensure that prosecutions could be pursued effectively and sentences fully enforced.

Shortly before the holiday period, Federal Justice Minister Hubig had presented a legislative proposal aimed at intensifying punishments for assaults on emergency and rescue workers. The measure’s effectiveness was questioned by the German Professional Association for Emergency Services, which noted that although relevant statutes already exist, they are rarely enforced, and maximum sentences—reaching up to five years—are seldom applied in practice. This discrepancy, the association argued, undermines the deterrent effect of stricter laws and limits the capacity of legal reforms to prevent repeated offenses.

In response to the New Year’s assaults, politicians and leaders from security and relief organizations called for immediate consequences, including expedited trials and rapid convictions. CDU General Secretary Linnemann contended that swift legal action within days would be far more effective than ongoing public appeals for tougher penalties. In a similar assessment, the president of the German Red Cross, Gröhe, characterized the attacks as a manifestation of growing societal coarsening, while Roßkopf, head of the Federal Police union, stressed the importance of accelerated judicial proceedings and consistent, firm sentencing. Behle, deputy chair of the trade union Verdi, also emphasized that assaults on emergency personnel must not be tolerated and called for improved protective measures and equipment to safeguard responders. Interior Senator Spranger reported that approximately thirty police officers were injured in Berlin alone, prompting Eichwede to additionally advocate for a reform of explosives legislation to prevent future incidents and enhance the overall safety of emergency operations.