The German Association of Towns and Municipalities is warning, shortly before the opening of the Christmas markets of a growing threat from civilian drones and is calling for more support for local authorities. According to the association, conventional security plans involving barriers and vehicle checks are not enough to address risks from the air. Local authorities should be formally included in situational assessments by the federal and state governments and receive better technical and financial resources, the Deutschlandfunk.
The association has three specific demands: first, the timely inclusion of local public order and security authorities in joint situational assessments; second, financial assistance for detection and defence technology, exercises and staffing; third, a clear legal basis for interventions in the airspace above events. The association says that standards are lacking in many places, for example for using mobile detection systems at crowded venues, and that there are gaps in the division of responsibilities between event organisers, public order offices and Polizei.
Legally, the issue concerns both aviation law and public safety. The Federal Ministry of the Interior is working on strategies to counter hybrid threats, which also include dealing with civilian drones. The Federal Ministry for Digital and Transport is responsible for regulations on airspace and restricted flight zones. Local authorities point out that temporary exclusion zones or restrictions can help, but implementing them in urban areas is complex and uses up resources.
Experts cite as background the sharp increase in the availability of powerful, easy-to-control drones. Open event spaces and dense city centres make conventional security plans more difficult. The German Air Navigation Services is testing detection and warning procedures at commercial airports; however, there are no standardised procedures or long-term funding arrangements for major events in city centres. According to local authorities, security budgets have been growing for years, while short-term emergency funding is no substitute for reliable planning.
For the coming Advent season, cities are expecting enhanced measures depending on local circumstances: additional restricted areas, closer cooperation between municipal enforcement officers and police, and fire brigade, expanded visitor management and targeted flight restrictions. The extent of these measures depends on local circumstances and available resources. The German Association of Towns and Municipalities is therefore calling for local authorities to be permanently incorporated into the national security framework and for reliable financial support to make effective drone defence practical to implement.
Editor: Mira Cadena (Article created with AI assistance).