Frustrated by the shortage of uniforms, German police officers in the southern German state of Bavaria have adopted an unusual strategy to draw attention to the problem.
"The worst April 1st joke ever: police in Bavaria strip naked" is the title of a video posted on social media by the state division of the German Police Union (DPolG).
"How long have you been waiting?" an officer asks a colleague in the same vehicle. "Four months. And you?" she replies, and hears "six months" in response. The pair then get out of the car, and it's only then that it becomes clear that they have no pants on.
Bavarian union representative Jürgen Köhnlein then appears in the video to say that there is nothing funny about the situation, and that the chronic lack of uniforms is disrespectful.
"The Bavarian police are 'undressing' and could literally end up with no pants," says Köhlein. According to the trade unionist, 21 items that are part of the officers' uniform - such as caps, jackets and pants - are either completely unavailable, or are only made available after months of waiting. The video is available on Youtube.
The union urged the Bavarian Interior Ministry to deal with the problem immediately, even if it means additional costs: "Since 2020, we have hardly talked about problems with the quality of uniforms, but rather about their unavailability."
Government says it is solving the problem
This Wednesday, a ministry spokesman acknowledged the lack of uniforms, which he attributed to problems in the supply chain, especially for specialized items such as multipurpose summer pants.
Now, the state authorities say they will take over the logistics of delivering the uniforms.
Representatives of the ministry also pointed to the pandemic and the war in Ukraine as additional factors contributing to the shortage of uniforms, and said that a new logistics center will come into operation in Bavaria by 2030, making the police force less dependent on external suppliers.
The secretariat, however, claims that the problem does not prevent the police from carrying out their duties, and that other elements of the uniform can be used when specific parts are not available.
Köhnlein criticizes: "At the moment we don't know whether the situation will improve or continue to worsen."
"What impression must new recruits have when they are forced to complete their training in 'civilian clothes' instead of being given a uniform?" he points out.
