Federal and State Police - Germany / Federal Republic of Germany 2019 - 155 Euro Cent

The word "police" is derived from the Greek "politeia", the constitution of the city-state, or from "police" (= build a wall together). In the German-speaking world it appeared in 1451 and served from then on to describe an orderly state of the community and the necessary measures. Today, it refers to all state security activities, all the police and administrative personnel and the sum of all police duties and responsibilities. The tasks of the police were defined in the 18th century: maintaining public safety and order, security for the individual and the community, and prosecution. According to the Basic Law, police sovereignty lies with the federal states. That is why the German police force is organized federally: There are 16 country police, whose tasks and powers are regulated in the police laws of the countries. In addition, there are three police forces operating at the federal level: the Federal Police, the Federal Criminal Police Office and the police at the German Bundestag.