Commission collaborates in drafting budget for the program.
Passau's Joint Police Center Continues to Thrive
In a recent meeting with Mayor Jürgen Dupper, the new leaders of the Joint Police Center in Passau – Police Director Hans Zettl and First Police Commissioner Jürgen Sälzer – introduced themselves and discussed the current tasks and challenges of the centre.
Established in 2015 as a provisional measure in response to the refugee crisis, the Joint Center has since grown significantly. In 2024, the centre processed approximately 18,000 queries, nearly doubling the number compared to 2017.
The Joint Center is a hub for diverse queries, including identification and verification of persons, covering the entire police task spectrum. It cooperates with numerous police stations of the Police Presidency of Lower Bavaria and the Federal Police, as well as with Austrian and Hungarian authorities. The centre supports the organization of joint trinational patrols with Hungarian police and Austrian officers on Hungarian territory, and with Italy and Austria on the Brenner route.
Before becoming the Coordinator of the Joint Police Center in Passau, Police Director Hans Zettl served as the Commissioner for Combating Organized Crime at the Munich Police Headquarters. He has been the coordinator of the Joint Center since the beginning of 2024 and is also the deputy head of the Federal Police Inspection Passau since October 2023.
First Police Commissioner Jürgen Sälzer, who will take over as the contingent leader of the Bavarian Police on January 1, 2025, joined the Joint Center as a deputy coordinator in 2023.
During the meeting, the importance of cross-border cooperation between the federal and state police and the Austrian police authorities was emphasized. The Joint Center plays a significant role in promoting the security feeling of citizens and has a positive impact on the security situation of the city and the entire border region.
Mayor Jürgen Dupper welcomed the new leaders of the Joint Police Center and emphasized its importance for the city and the entire region. He expressed his appreciation for the work done by the centre and looked forward to its continued success.
