Higher spending on police equipment in the 2026 budget

The North Rhine-Westphalia state parliament decided in a roll-call vote on an amendment from the SPD parliamentary group to the 2026 budget law. The request referred to additional funds for the police, in particular for the purchase of technical equipment. Specifically, the budget should be increased significantly to enable investments in drone defense and other equipment such as distance electro-impulse devices. According to the applicants, the background is increasing security requirements, for example through drones for possible spying on critical infrastructure. The aim of the amendment was to better equip the police at an early stage and prepare them for new threats. The amendment was rejected with 119 votes against. 60 MPs voted in favor and there were no abstentions.