Spare keys for cars: Manufacturers should help the police

According to the wishes of the Conference of Justice Ministers, car manufacturers should be obliged to hand over duplicate keys or codes to the police so that suspected serious criminals can be better intercepted in their vehicles.

In Berlin, the justice departments of the states approved a corresponding resolution from Baden-Württemberg, as a spokesman for the state’s Justice Minister Marion Gentges said.

The CDU politician argues that it is becoming increasingly difficult for the state to bug cars because the systems to protect against theft, such as door locks, are improving. In order to make manufacturers more responsible, the Justice Ministers’ Conference successfully voted on a proposal entitled “Legal Obligation of Third Parties to Cooperate in Vehicle Opening”.

It states, among other things: “With regard to the need for effective criminal prosecution, the implementation of legally permissible measures must not fail due to factual circumstances.”

According to the Stuttgart ministry, the Federal Ministry of Justice should examine the recommendation and, if necessary, prepare a proposed regulation, which will then be presented to the Federal Cabinet.

“Theft prevention is without a doubt very important, but should not ultimately be an obstacle to the prosecution of serious crimes,” argued Gentges after the justice department’s decision.

Covert investigative work is particularly necessary in the fight against serious and organized crime, but also in the fight against terrorism. “The collaboration with the vehicle manufacturers worked and works well in many cases,” said Gentges. The federal states’ initiative is intended to anchor this cooperation in law for law enforcement authorities and automobile manufacturers.