In the mid-1990s, police officers in NRW were faced with an unfamiliar scenario: a mission was imminent - and not in a neighbouring federal state, but in Bosnia-Herzegovina, a country marked by deep tensions after the war.
In the divided city of Mostar, where hostile ethnic groups hardly trusted each other anymore, the task force was not only to provide security, but also to build bridges between people. It was a historic project that required courage and sensitivity.
One of the first missionaries later recalled that he had no idea exactly what to expect: "My colleagues at the time thought I was crazy." Although the situation in the completely destroyed city initially seemed sobering, dramatic progress could be seen after just two years.
At the time, the mission was coordinated by the Western European Union - a military pact that no longer exists. However, the experience from Mostar laid the foundation for what is now considered routine: foreign missions that rely on cooperation and trust
International police missions: From Bosnia to the world
Much has changed since the first mission: Today, the NRW police are involved in several international missions, from Ukraine to Somalia. The focus is on support on the ground: 'peacekeeping' instead of 'peace enforcement', i.e. away from enforcing peace and towards maintaining it.
One of the outstanding exceptions is the Kosovo mission, in which German police officers were once equipped with a so-called 'executive mandate' and thus acted on the ground with police powers. Later, the task changed: conflict prevention, training and advice came to the fore.
A network for the future
The missions have long since turned the NRW police into a global player. Police officers from the federal state hold important positions in international organizations such as the United Nations, the European Union and the European border protection agency Frontex.
In 2021, a colleague from NRW made history when she became the first German police officer ever to take up a multi-year assignment with the EU border protection agency. However, short Frontex deployments of two months are still possible - a model that continues to enjoy popularity.
LAFP NRW develops new ways of preparation
The foreign deployments have also shaped the structures in NRW. In the early years, preparations were characterized by great commitment and a lot of improvisation. Today, training is carried out at a recognized professional level, with passion and dedication continuing to play a central role. Three training centers - in Brühl, Lübeck and Böblingen - prepare the emergency services for their tasks.
The Department for Foreign Deployment of the NRW Police (Department 13) at the LAFP NRW in Brühl plays a key role here: this is where the deployments in Georgia, Armenia, Kosovo and South Sudan are prepared in particular. In 2009, the training center was certified by the United Nations, followed by an award from the EU in 2012 - this combination was unique in the world at the time. Since then, the certificates or their successors have been regularly renewed.
Current recognition beyond borders
The expertise of the department is also valued internationally. Colleagues from the Benelux countries and the Czech Republic are regularly trained in Brühl. There have also been recent deployments to Greece, Rwanda and the Ivory Coast, where NRW police officers passed on their knowledge in leadership and specialization training or trainer qualifications.
The LAFP NRW 2024 left a clear mark on the EU's Common Security and Defence Policy. Department 13 developed an online course for trainer training. This was accepted and adopted as an EU standard in the same year.
Another highlight: in 2024, Brühl hosted a UN seminar on child protection, which was attended by participants from 18 countries, including Fiji and Nepal. The previous year, the site served as the venue for a large-scale exercise by the Organization for Security and Co-operation in Europe (OSCE) to combat human smuggling. Both organizations plan to repeat their cooperation with the department.
Looking ahead
The current global political situation indicates that the demand for international police missions will continue to increase. New tasks will also arise for Department 13 of the LAFP NRW in the medium term.
After a generation abroad, the NRW police have not only found their position - in many cases, they are setting the pace. Where it once started small, it is now a self-confident player in a networked world, ready to master the challenges ahead.