For witnesses of police violence

If you see someone being checked by the police, you can support them. Here are a few ideas of what you can do. Be aware that as a witness, you are part of the situation. Make sure that your behavior does not cause further problems for the person concerned.

There are different ways of reacting to a police stop. Your intervention can have different consequences for you depending on what you do and depending on who you are in the eyes of the police.

Check how you feel. If you are unsure about your behaviour at the moment, because you are very stressed, ill or under the influence of drugs for example, you better should not get involved.
Stay near the police stop. Take notes about the time and place, the actions, statements, behavior of the police and the license plate number of the police vehicle. With this, you show the police that they are being watched.
If possible, talk to the affected person directly and ask if they are okay and if they want help. Say that you’re on their side and that you can be a witness of the police stop.
Ask the police for the reason and legal basis of the police stop. Make clear that you are not interfering with the police measures and that you are a witness. You can say to the police: „I’m a witness of the police stop and don’t interfere with the police measures.“
Ask for the name of the police officers. Try to memorize characteristics of the police officers.
Remember not to touch the police officers under any circumstances.
Make people around you aware of the situation.
Film the police, especially if the police use physical violence. In case the police try to prevent you from filming, you can say that you won’t publish the video and won’t record the spoken word. Nevertheless, the police could take away your phone.
If possible, stay until the end of the police stop so that you can talk to the affected person. Ask if they need something and exchange your contacts.
Offer the person the telephone number of Leben ohne Strafe: +49 177 96 87 04 8
If you call us afterwards, we can document what happened.

If you see someone being checked by the police, you can support them. Here are a few ideas of what you can do. Be aware that as a witness, you are part of the situation. Make sure that your behavior does not cause further problems for the person concerned.

There are different ways of reacting to a police stop. Your intervention can have different consequences for you depending on what you do and depending on who you are in the eyes of the police.

Whether you make a protocol or film the police – the important thing is that we don’t leave each other alone. We look out for each other!