- Germany edition
- Change edition:
- France |
- Norway |
- Spain |
- Sweden |
- Switzerland
Cops spied on each other to nab loo roll thief
Published: 18 Jan 13 11:54 CET | Print version
Online: http://www.thelocal.de/national/20130118-47411.html
German criminal police who used hidden cameras for 18 months to try to find a toilet paper thief in their own office were probably breaking the law, it has emerged.
- Justin Bieber's monkey becomes 'German' (22 May 13)
- England fans decry 'German' football jersey (21 May 13)
- States to toughen laws on drunken cycling (21 May 13)
Now, Der Spiegel reported on Friday, LKA president Werner Jakstat has ordered an internal investigation into the investigation.
Specialists were tasked to install a hidden camera in the stairwell near the toilets of the LKA building in Ilmkreis near Erfurt - the kind of cameras normally used to watch suspected terrorists, gang members or drug dealers.
An intelligence officer was even assigned to analyse the footage captured on the loo roll camera.
This continued for one-and-a-half years, finally being wound down in May 2011, the magazine said. Not only that, the state prosecutor in Erfurt knew about it, the magazine said.
Broadcaster MDR reported it had now seen confidential documents from the LKA's own lawyers suggesting the secret surveillance was not legitimate.
The theft of toilet paper would not justify any sort of secret surveillance, the lawyers said. Operation toilet roll was also likely an abuse of the system.
Even if there had been a legitimate reason for the efforts, they would have required approval from a judge within three days - and this plainly was not the case.
There is even disagreement about where the cameras were installed - although the LKA told MDR Thüringen the operation was restricted to the ground floor of the stairwell, the documents of the internal lawyers talk of the toilet areas also being watched.
The two police trade unions have since sent a collection of demands to Thuringian state Interior Minster Jörg Geibert. They are calling for an independent commission to check the legality of the operation.
The Local/hc
What do you think? Leave your comment below.
Social Democrats seek revival on 150th b-day
Germany's Social Democrats, trailing behind the conservatives in the polls just months ahead of the elections, are looking to relaunch themselves as they celebrate their 150th anniversary later this week. READ () »
Germans bathe easy in clear waters
German outdoor swimming spots are cleaner than ever, results from a European Commission survey showed on Tuesday. On the whole, the EU's water quality has, it said, significantly improved. READ () »
Spain and Germany fight youth employment
Germany has agreed to provide vocational training and jobs for young Spaniards starved of opportunities in their crisis-hit home country. READ () »
Justin Bieber's monkey becomes 'German'
Justin Bieber's pet monkey, which was seized by German customs in March, officially became German property this week after the Canadian pop star failed to claim the animal, officials said. READ () »
First bison born in wild 'for centuries'
A wild bison has been born in Germany for the first time in centuries. The lead female of a herd released from captivity in April gave birth to the calf on May 5th, it was revealed on Tuesday. READ () »
Conservatives demand East German symbol ban
Germany's Christian Democrats (CDU) called on Tuesday for symbols associated with the totalitarian socialist regime of former East Germany to be banned, in the same way that it is illegal to display Nazi memorabilia. READ () »
States to toughen laws on drunken cycling
German state interior ministers are hashing out a plan to lower the amount of alcohol cyclists can legally consume before getting on their bikes. The measures come as figures show one in 10 bike accidents are the result of drunk riders. READ () »
The Doors keyboardist Ray Manzarek dies at 74
Ray Manzarek, co-founder of legendary 1960s rock band The Doors and creator of their signature organ sound, died on Monday in Germany after a long battle with cancer, his manager said. He was 74. READ () »
- 21/05 First bison born in wild 'for centuries' »
- 21/05 States to toughen laws on drunken cycling »
- 20/05 Cooler and wetter week ahead »
- 19/05 Police warn against high-tech Islamist attacks »
- 19/05 Some fear inflation if small euro coins cut »
- 19/05 Boy dies at Tropical Islands swimming pool »
- 18/05 Organic food stores expand rapidly »
- 18/05 Friedrich wants hate preachers expelled »
- 18/05 Russians top asylum seekers to Germany »
- 17/05 Burning ship had tonnes of radioactive material »
- 22/05 Opposition to English at French unis is 'hypocrisy' »
- 22/05 IMF chief Lagarde faces French court grilling »
More news from France at thelocal.fr
More news from Norway at thelocal.no
- 22/05 Fires spread in third day of Stockholm riots »
- 22/05 Stockholm's ten best-kept secrets - revealed »
More news from Sweden at thelocal.se
More news from Switzerland at thelocal.ch
See all ads | Join the Marketplace
-
PsyShrink Munich
The Expat Psychologists in Munich, Frankfurt and worldwide -
Chambervelt Rooselain & Cie Ltd.
Insurance and financial planning for English speakers in Germany -
British Corner Shop
British Corner Shop - The online supermarket for expats -
PsyShrink Frankfurt
The Expat Psychologists in Munich, Frankfurt and worldwide -
Weiss Institut
Free yourself from Smoking addictions, Sugar craving and Alcohol addictions -
Shiply Worldwide Ltd
Shiply the Online Transport Market Place
857 jobs available
652 new jobs this week
86 new jobs today
- Product Development Manager (f/m) / Manager (w/m) Produktentwicklung
- Event Marketing Project Coordinator (f/m)
- Biostatistiker/in freiberuflich
- FIELD SALES EXECUTIVE, GERMANY (M/F) (home office)
- MTS Customer System Test Engineer (f/m)
- Sales Manager (m/f) Salt Specialities
- Multilingual Administrators (m/f)
- Sustaining Engineer (f/m)
- Design Engineer (f/m)
- Internal Recruiter / HR Coordinator (m/w)
- Apr/09 Touring Tempelhof – Europe’s Largest Historical Monument
- Apr/09 Spring in Berlin 2013 – Where, What Why and When!
- Mar/12 Living Like a Local – Tell us what you think and win a weekend in Berlin!
- Feb/04 Escaping the City – Our Recommended Suburban Getaways
- Feb/04 Berlin Tegel Airport Transfers – How to get into the City
Dating
Looking for your own blonde bombshell? Or is the strong, silent type more your
style? Find a German sweetheart here.
Weather
"After clouds comes clear weather," say the Germans. But what about after that? Find out in The Local's weather
section.
Blog
German stuff that's distracting us today.
Noticeboard
Whether you want to buy, sell, hire, announce or promote something, here's the place to do it - completely free of
charge.
Discuss
Debate the news, ask for advice, make friends - or just let off steam.
Register now for:
> Free use of noticeboard
> Special discounts
> Weekly news roundup
> Unlimited use of discuss
- Food trucks – meals on wheels
Small mobile restaurants are starting to catch on in Germany and they are often far more than your average snack wagons with Currywurst and Pommes. - “Preserve the proven, shape the new” – the International Bach Academy in Stuttgart
For more than thirty years, Helmuth Rilling shaped the international Bach Academy; now he is succeeded by Hans-Christoph Rademann. - ‘Open Mike’ – Fireworks with the Buddha
The Berlin ‘Open Mike’ entered this year its twentieth edition. - On the Stage, the Spoken Word Prevails
In January 2013 the annual meeting of the Dramaturgical Society took place in Munich; its theme: “Speaking on Stage – and about Theatre”... - The Magician of Images – Klaus Ensikat
With the technique of an Old Master and subtle humour, the award-winning graphic designer and illustrator Klaus Ensikat has for fifty years produced ingenious illustrations for literary classics and children’s books....
- Conference - Pioneers on Dual Training Abroad
Germany‘s system of dual training is one of the foundations of its economic strength. - The all-German final in Wembley
Bayern München and Borussia Dortmund are playing in the final of the Champions League at London’s Wembley Stadium. - German first feature film in Cannes
A directorial debut from Germany makes it to the competition “Un Certain Regard” at the famous film festival on the Côte d’Azur. - Traveling Germany: Europa-Park
Think theme parks:Roller coasters, colorful rides, entertainment, thrills. Think Germany: Europa-Park is the largest amusement park in the country, second in Europe only to Disneyland Paris. - Frankfurt – the digital hub
The Internet hub in Frankfurt am Main is the largest in the world and places Germany in a leading position in the digital world.
- Theatre festival between the Saar and the Mosel
The Festival Perspectives in the German-French region around Saarbrücken is staging European theatre, dance and music productions. - The European Year of Citizens
2013 is the European Year of Citizens. - Europe Day, Robert Schuman and Class 4a
Enthusiasm for the idea of Europe – in the 60th European Competition, schoolchildren from Germany show what this could look like. - Relief organizations
The portals presented here provide information on the help programs offered by different organizations.
- Bertelsmann Entrepreneurs Program
- Design Engineer - Turbomachinery
- Design Engineer Aerospace in Toulouse
- Design Feasibility Engineer / Craftsmanship Engineer (m/f)
- HUMAN RESOURCES Graduate Trainee Program BEYOND BORDERS
- Lead Engineer - Combustion Engineering
- Lead Engineer - Product Lifecycle Management
- Lead Stress Engineer - Combustor
- Lead Stress Engineer - Rotor
- Lead Stress Engineer - Structures
- 19/05 Car Boot Sale Herford
- 17/05 paid internship
- 17/05 Florida resident seeks job in baden Baden Germany
- 17/05 Berlin Writing Group
- 17/05 cheap car hire
- 15/05 Queen size bed & frame
- 09:07 A question of science...
- 09:06 Meet 'n' Eat - LE pique-nique français
- 08:54 Is learning 'der die das' impossible?
- 07:50 Calling all video gamers
- 07:30 Registration of residence in Munich (Anmeldung)
- 07:24 Dreams
- 07:09 Taking my daughter on holiday to Pakistan
- 02:05 Where to buy Heinz baked beans
- 00:48 The Good life!
- 00:24 Working from home in Germany: pros and cons
Start trading shares, equities, forex, etc. No commission on equities; Low min. margins. Apply for a CFDs account now!
'Charming, old, beamed cottage for holiday let in Jesus Pobre, Alicante, Spain
www.littlehouseinspain.com/
Professional and qualified consultancy on all insurance and finance matters in Germany, Telephone: +49 2163 571 1740, Email: bg@albatross-assurance.com
www.albatross-assurance.com
Visiting Berlin anytime soon? Book your hotel in Berlin here.
For home-from-home holiday accommodation, search for a Berlin apartment to rent.
Your comments about this article:
"Toilet bowls stolen from police station - Cops have nothing to go on"
By the way, the reference to the Keystone Cops is demeaning and hurtful.....to the Keystone Cops.
"probably breaking the law" i am telling all they are and many of them in America have been fired and some went to jail.
The Lord's Little Helper
Paul Felix Schott