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Berlin Police to Pilot Three-Step Early Risk Screening for Potentially Violent Mental-Health Cases

The pilot channels frontline encounters into tiered reviews that may trigger clinical input or involuntary commitment.

Overview

  • Police President Barbara Slowik Meisel announced a pilot starting in April to identify people with risk potential earlier.
  • Frontline officers will apply concise screening criteria and send qualifying cases to a central police directorate for risk analysis.
  • If a concrete danger is identified, the LKA will conduct an extended individual assessment that includes psychotherapeutic expertise.
  • Possible measures may include convening a case conference, involving the social psychiatric service, or applying for a commitment order.
  • Officials cite a rise in behaviorally conspicuous individuals linked to serious crimes, noting the system was developed with other states and that health services must provide clinical support.