A story about the police in Hannover, Germany, their work in the city, the headquarter and the difficult and Castortransport 2011/12.
Hannover is the capital and biggest city of Lower Saxony. It is also home of the police headquarter and the place where the emergency calls are answered and redirected. In addition to the emergency, the headquarter has another function. When the "Castortransport" passes the operational area of the Police it is the place from where this operation is coordinated. 20.000 state and federal police officers are then sent to the countryside of northern Germany to make sure that the radioactive waste from La Hague, France will reach his temporary destination in Gorleben. Since years this is one of the most difficult and controversial operations which the German police has to handle. Major operations like this, which are managed using batons, pepper spray and water cannons have an very negative image in the German population. Aggressiveness and excessive violence used by the officials are a constant theme in the media and in society. But the officers are not always the only ones who act aggressive. Violent protesters and people throw stones, glass bottles and fireworks against the officers and hurt many of them during their assignment.
Politics too plays a role in this job. As a state institution the police must accept their decisions and protect the interests of the state. Often, the officers are between the fronts and have to deal with the anger of the citizens towards the political decisions. A lot of times this is a very difficult task. More surprising is, that many young people still decide to learn in this profession.