Over Half Berlin Police Recruits Lack Sufficient German Skills

An alarming 55% of new police recruits in Berlin who began training in spring 2025 lack sufficient German language skills, necessitating remedial language lessons to meet the required C2 proficiency standard. This issue reflects broader societal challenges in Germany, including declining written language skills, a shortage of skilled workers, and highly diverse classrooms where many students have migrant backgrounds and insufficient German proficiency. Berlin's police force, which has a migrant representation matching or exceeding the city's demographic share, faces difficulties in ensuring recruits can perform essential duties such as writing reports, testifying in court, and effective communication with the public. The language crisis is part of a nationwide trend affecting essential professions like healthcare and education, where language competency is critical for public safety and institutional trust. Authorities acknowledge that while language support is most needed in the initial stages of training, the systemic failure to fully integrate migrants linguistically undermines long-term solutions and public confidence. Additionally, concerns have been raised about the integrity of crime statistics and the social consequences of these integration challenges amid rising crime rates linked to migrant populations.