Thursday, July 17
Weapons ban in all trains, buses and stations from Thursday
Starting on Thursday, July 17, Berlin will introduce stricter regulations concerning the carrying of knives and other weapons in public. The new rules are intended to curb a rise in violent crime, following a spate of high-profile knife attacks across the country – but they also grant police additional powers to conduct searches without specific grounds for suspicion.
So, what are the new rules? From Thursday, all knives – regardless of blade length – will be prohibited on all forms of public transport. This includes the S-Bahn, U-Bahn, trams and buses, as well as train stations and bus stops. Since it is a blanket ban, there will be no signs indicating designated prohibited zones.
And it’s not just knives: firearms (including flare guns or guns equipped with blanks) are also banned, as well as irritant sprays such as tear gas.
There are exceptions, however. People working in restaurants or snack bars at train stations are permitted to use knives, and customers may also use them as cutlery while eating. There are further exemptions for carrying a knife “in connection with a generally recognised purpose”. In the knife-free zones of Berlin’s public parks, this might include carrying a knife to cut a birthday cake or a watermelon – though the scope of this clause is not clearly defined.
It is also considered acceptable to carry a knife if it remains in packaging or is securely stored. The regulations state that the ban applies only to knives which are “readily accessible”, excluding those that cannot “be reached with more than three hand movements”.
Responsibility for enforcing the new rules will fall to the Berlin police, who will be granted far-reaching new powers under the regulation. Officers are now permitted to check anyone for weapons, regardless of specific suspicion. If a weapon is discovered, they may issue a fine of up to €10,000.
