Politics · Germany · 5 hrs ago
Berlin deportations disrupted by unavailable police vehicles
Some planned deportations in Berlin were disrupted because police officers could not reach the people due to be deported.
The head of the German Police Union in Berlin said about 5% of police vehicles are currently out of service.
He said more than half meet at least one condition for being taken out of service.
Another police union said years of cuts have left the fleet in poor condition, with officers dealing with worn brakes and other safety concerns.
Berlin’s police spent about €5 million on fuel in 2025, while repair costs at outside workshops rose from about €5 million in 2024 to nearly €8 million in 2025.
The vehicle problems also affect Berlin’s fire service, where one in five vehicles is reportedly unavailable, though the city’s interior administration says reserve vehicles cover the shortfalls.
Several planned deportations in Berlin could not proceed as intended because police officers lacked available vehicles.
About 5% of Berlin police vehicles are currently out of service, according to the article.
Police union officials say the fleet has been neglected and some vehicles have safety problems.
Berlin’s fire service also has vehicle shortages, but the Interior Administration says reserve vehicles prevent the outages from threatening its operational capacity.
Police vehicle costs have risen, with spending on external repair shops increasing from about €5 million in 2024 to nearly €8 million in 2025.
- Who
- Berlin police officers and people scheduled for deportation. Police unions also raised concerns about the vehicle fleet.
- What
- Several planned deportations could not take place as intended because police officers did not have available vehicles.
- When
- The article was published on 13 October 2026. It does not state when the disrupted deportations occurred.
- Where
- Berlin, Germany.
- Why
- Some police vehicles were not operational, and officers could not reach people scheduled for deportation.
Berlin police unions
Berlin Interior Administration
Vehicle fleet condition
Berlin police unions
Police unions say the fleet has been neglected and some vehicles have dangerous defects.
Berlin Interior Administration
The Interior Administration says fire service vehicle outages do not threaten operational capacity because reserve vehicles cover them.
Police spending on external repair shops was about €5 million.
Spending on external repair shops rose to nearly €8 million.
Berlin police spent about €5 million on fuel, including nearly €500,000 that had not been budgeted.
Berlin expects an additional vehicle-related funding need of more than €2 million.
- Police vehicles out of service
- About 5%
- Vehicles meeting at least one retirement criterion
- More than half, according to Frank Teichert
- Police fuel spending in 2025
- About €5 million
- Unplanned fuel spending in 2025
- Nearly €500,000
- External repair-shop spending
- About €5 million in 2024; nearly €8 million in 2025
- Expected additional funding need in 2026
- More than €2 million
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What people are saying
Every deportation offensive turns into real-life satire at the front line.
The fleet has been run down over years.
These vehicles are not exactly safe.