What is Racial Profiling?
When the police controls based on skincolour and ideas about ethnicity, religion, or national origin instead of individual’s conduct or objective evidence.
In and around Görlitzer Park, Görlitzer Bahnhof, Kottbusser Tor, Warschauer Brücke,
Alexanderplatz, parts of Hermannplatz, parts of Rigaer Straße are special „danger zones“(kriminalitätsbelasteter Ort). Here the police can control you without a specific reason.
If you are arrested you only have to give the following information:
Name, date/place and country of birth, nationality and registered address. They have to tell you the reason for the arrest and explain your rights.
Don‘t say anything else and don‘t give further details! At this point in time the police could accuse you of anything and use what you say against you. After being arrested you are legally allowed to make a phone call.
If you are arrested or watching arrests you can call a lawyer or contact the emergency number!
It is good to remember the number, (because the police will maybe take your phone).
They will document the arrest, give information and contact lawyers. The telephone is not always answered. Leave your name (spell it), where you are, and what you are accused of and if possible a phone number on the answering machine. (Leaving a message on the machine does not count as a phone call. So you are allowed to make another call!)
You are allowed to refuse to say anything to the police as well as in front of the public prosecutor or the court. Don‘t let yourself be intimidated!
Sometimes the officers threatens with deportation or they promise to release you if you tell them anything. Do not believe them! In NO case sign a statement!
If things or money are taken from you, they have to give you a protokoll or receipt. Do not sign this receipt. Never pay anything without getting a receipt.
In case of a Platzverweis file a complaint afterwards with a lawyer.
If you are injured or if you need other medical care, a doctor has to be allowed to take care of you.
Don‘t let the police take your DNA.
If you are not released you have to be presented to the committing magistrate (Haftrichter) or there will be a summary trial (Schnellverfahren). This has happened at the latest the day after the arrest before midnight.
It is your right that an translator is present there. Insist on this!
Do not give a statement even now. Whatever you say in front of the police can later be used against you. Wait after you have spoken to a lawyer. If you have to come to court, you have to go. If you have to go to the police you do not have to go. People who have no legal status can be put straight into custody until deportation. Even in this case you have the right to call a lawyer. If you are released after having been hit or treated bad go straight to a doctor. Have your injuries documented.
If you have experienced police violence, write down your experiences, note witnesses, time and place, ID numbers of the police etc. and get in touch with KOP or Ombudsstelle.
Contacts that could be useful
24 h EMERGENCY NUMBER OF DEFENSE LAWYERS:
Phone: +49 172 32 55 553
Reachout ( free of charge ): Counseling for victims of right-wing, racist or antisemitic violence and threats, also victims of racial profiling and racist police-violence
Phone: +49 30 695 683 39
E-Mail: info@reachoutberlin.de
Kopernikusstraße 23, 10245 Berlin
KOP-Berlin ( free of charge ) Campaign against racist police violence, helps victims of police violence and offers legal advice
Phone: +49 179 544 17 90
E-Mail: info@kop-berlin.de
Facebook Link
EACH ONE TEACH ONE (EOTO e.V.) (free of charge ) offers advice to Black, African and Afro-diasporic people in Berlin in all cases of discrimination
Phone: +49 (0) 157 524 717 41 & +49 (0) 157 735 519 49
E-Mail: beratung@eoto-archiv.de
Address: Kameruner Str. 16, 13351 Berlin
Also Psychological consultation hours for young Blacks
KuB ( free of charge ) Consultation on the Right of Asylum and Residence, Consultation for Refugee Women*, Psychosocial Consultation, German classes
Phone :+49 30 614 94 00
E-Mail: kontakt@kub-berlin.org
Oranienstr. 159
www.KuB-Berlin.org