The Verwaltungsgericht Berlin has ruled that police officers used excessive force against a climate activist by applying a so-called "Schmerzgriff" (pain grip) during a protest in April 2023. This decision, handed down on March 20, 2025, confirmed that the action was unjustified and disproportionate in the specific situation.
The plaintiff, 21-year-old Lars Ritter, was participating in a sit-in blockade organized by the climate group Letzte Generation on April 20, 2023, on the Straße des 17. Juli. During the demonstration, police had instructed the protesters to move to the sidewalk. When they refused, the assembly was declared dissolved. Ritter, alongside others, chose to sit on the road in protest. Police intervened, applying the painful grip technique to remove him from the street.
In his ruling, Chairman Judge Wilfried Peters stated, "The behavior of the officers was disproportionate in the specific situation," indicating that the police force could have simply carried Ritter away rather than using physical pain to enforce their command. The judge emphasized that there was no indication that Ritter would resist, beyond passive and verbal dissent.
The use of the "Schmerzgriff" in this case sparked significant debate about police tactics in handling protests. Peters further remarked, "A less painful execution would have been possible," reinforcing that while pain grips may generally be permissible, their application depends on the context.
This incident and the ruling were also analyzed by legal advocates. Patrick Heinemann, the plaintiff's lawyer, commented on the broader implications of the decision, saying, "It is good that the court has made it clear that in a free legal state, there is a fundamental principle: that the purpose does not justify every means." His sentiments indicate a call for law enforcement tactics to align more closely with civil rights.
The case garnered significant attention, partly due to video footage of the police's actions being shared online. Instead of directly punishing the officers involved, the Berliner Polizei initially investigated them for possible bodily harm in the exercise of their duties. Ultimately, however, the Berlin public prosecutor's office closed the proceedings, stating, "The accused could not be proven to have used excessive force during the operation."
Furthermore, the verdict highlights that the ruling makes clear that police are required to use the least painful methods necessary when dealing with protests. This raises crucial questions about current policing methods used during public demonstrations and stresses the importance of ensuring the rights of citizens to protest without facing degrading treatment from law enforcement.
Critically, the court's decision is not yet legally binding, leaving the door open for further appeals. Police practices, particularly during protests, will likely continue to come under scrutiny, particularly considering how social movements evolve over time. The climate activist group Letzte Generation recently announced a rebranding to Neue Generation, indicating a shift in focus toward broader issues of democracy and civil rights alongside climate activism.
The ruling stands as a notable example of the ongoing balance between necessary police action and the protection of individual rights within the context of public protests. As societal tensions surrounding climate change and activism continue to rise, decisions like these may shape how law enforcement interacts with demonstrators in the future, hopefully leading to clearer guidelines to protect against excessive force and preserve civil liberties.
