police violence / police power
Loading your saved state.
police violence
In general usage, often refers to the unlawful or disproportionate use of force by police officers. In this sense, the term is synonymous with police brutality.
Die Demonstranten protestierten gegen die exzessive Polizeigewalt bei der Räumung des Platzes.
The demonstrators protested against the excessive police violence during the clearing of the square.
police power
The legally authorized power of the police to use coercive measures to enforce laws. This is the legal and neutral term for the state authority exercised by the police.
Die Ausübung der Polizeigewalt ist durch das Polizeirecht der Länder streng geregelt.
The exercise of police power is strictly regulated by the police laws of the federal states.
The word is made up of 'Polizei' (police) and 'Gewalt' (violence/power). The two meanings arise because 'Gewalt' in German can mean both 'Gewalttätigkeit/Brutalität' (violence/brutality) and 'Macht/Befugnis' (power/authority), as in 'Staatsgewalt' (state power).
Die Diskussion um Polizeigewalt dreht sich oft um die Frage, wann Gewalt legitim ist.
The discussion about police violence often revolves around the question of when force is legitimate.
The negative meaning (brutality) is most common in everyday language and in the media. You can recognize the neutral, legal meaning (authority) by a formal, legal context and by verbs like 'ausüben' (to exercise) or 'regeln' (to regulate).
Ein Artikel berichtet über neue Vorwürfe von Polizeigewalt. (negativ)
An article reports on new allegations of police violence. (negative)
In the critical sense, 'Polizeigewalt' (police violence) is often used with certain verbs and nouns. Typical examples are: 'gegen Polizeigewalt protestieren' (to protest against police violence), 'Opfer von Polizeigewalt werden' (to become a victim of police violence), or 'Vorwürfe von Polizeigewalt' (allegations of police violence).
Die Organisation dokumentiert Fälle von mutmaßlicher Polizeigewalt.
The organization documents cases of alleged police violence.
In the legal sense, 'Polizeigewalt' (police power) often appears in fixed expressions. These include 'die Ausübung der Polizeigewalt' (the exercise of police power), 'die Grenzen der Polizeigewalt' (the limits of police power), or 'die rechtlichen Grundlagen der Polizeigewalt' (the legal foundations of police power).
Im Jurastudium lernt man die rechtlichen Grenzen der Polizeigewalt kennen.
In law school, you learn about the legal limits of police power.
