Berlin Senator Iris Spranger (SPD) criticised the arms manufacturer Rheinmetall for distributing defective bulletproof vests to the Berlin police service. Speaking on Monday in the House of Representatives, Spranger described the situation as a “scandalous lack of quality” and a “failure” on the part of Rheinmetall.
The panels were purchased in 2017 and have a 10-year warranty. According to Spranger, no agreement has been reached with Rheinmetall, and the police are considering legal action if the manufacturer does not compromise. Berlin police have had to discard more than 5,200 ceramic plates for bulletproof vests in recent weeks. A routine inspection revealed the defects.
Spranger emphasised that the arms company, which had profited greatly from public contracts and made substantial profits in recent years, must compensate for the damage immediately.
“Since this deficiency came to light, we have been working intensively on a review and solution,” Rheinmetall told rbb on Tuesday evening in response to an inquiry. “The safety of the emergency services is always our top priority. We are in direct and close contact with the responsible Berlin authorities to fully and transparently clarify the situation.”
Spranger also said that Berlin’s police force is adequately protected, noting, among other things, that 2,000 new protective plates had been procured from another manufacturer for €1.2 million.
