© dpa
The Berlin Senate wants to better protect witnesses and justice employees in the fight against organized crime and is making a move to this end in the Bundesrat.
The legislative initiative aims to expand the definition of coercion in the criminal code. The black-red coalition sees this as a "clear legislative signal" to protect witnesses, lawyers, judicial staff, bailiffs and interpreters.
The background to this is that in Berlin, too, witnesses to crimes are repeatedly put under pressure. This is to prevent incriminating information from coming to light in the first place - or to prevent the investigation of a crime during the trial. There is often a connection with organized crime, said Berlin's Justice Senator Felor Badenberg (CDU). "We cannot allow those involved in proceedings to be threatened by organized crime," Badenberg told the German Press Agency. "Because every attack on witnesses and court officials is an attack on the entire justice system. In other words, on the core of our state."