Social sciences

People with a major in social sciences can work in various areas of the NRW police force. In the area of politically motivated crime and in the strategic early detection of Islamist terrorism, the respective target group-oriented processing of phenomena-related findings and current developments is part of the job. To this end, employees carry out research and analyses in police data systems, data networks (including darknet and deep web) and social media channels (OSINT analyses) using IT software tools. You will identify, analyze and evaluate existing and new structures/phenomena in the respective phenomenon area. In addition to assisting in responding to parliamentary inquiries, the field of activity includes initiating and carrying out analysis projects and producing expert reports at state level that are independent of specific events. Employees are responsible for providing the department, division and authority management, the Ministry of the Interior and other users (e.g. other security authorities or intelligence services) with information as required in the form of scientific analyses, dossiers, reports, situation reports and statements.This also includes advising and supporting criminal investigations in the form of investigation concepts, preparing offender biographies and assessing risks by classifying facts in the context of society as a whole, including in the context of acute, time-critical and security-relevant threats. The work also includes the development and maintenance of the current state of research in the respective phenomenon area as well as lecturing in the context of further training and awareness-raising measures.

Another area in which people with a major in social sciences can work is the field of strategic crime prevention. Here, empirical research projects are carried out on the analytical consideration of the crime situation and development, on the origins and manifestations of crime, the security situation, the citizens' sense of security and the work of the police in NRW. The employees are involved in the further development and prevention of crime and especially in the prevention of politically motivated crime in NRW and at federal level and promote the idea of prevention within and outside the police. They also contribute to the development of concepts in all police fields of action, prepare and coordinate external scientific evaluations of police work and further develop methods for evaluating police projects/programs. 

The areas of responsibility can be divided into prevention, research and evaluation. The employees collect and prepare information and qualitative and quantitative data with the help of MS Office products, statistical software and databases, which are then forwarded to the district police authorities and other stakeholders. To analyze the crime situation and subsequently derive the need for crime prevention action, the employees prepare specialist concepts, statements and reports.

In the field of Islamic studies, employees carry out research in data networks and social networks. In doing so, they evaluate Islamic studies issues, people or media and record and evaluate the environment of violent Islamist groups. Speaking a foreign language relevant to Islam is a great advantage. The employees are involved in the creation of investigation concepts and the preparation of offender biographies and provide advice and support during police investigations. They also compile background information on relevant Islamist groups in NRW.
The activities are carried out in cooperation at federal and state level, ensuring that the latest scientific findings are taken into account.

Psychologists are employed by the NRW police in the coordination office for dangerous persons, politically motivated crime and the joint extremism and counter-terrorism center.

They support the police in averting danger and criminal prosecution by actively participating in the risk management of persons with terrorist potential with right-wing, left-wing or foreign ideology, taking into account the current state of scientific knowledge. One focus here is on operational analyses of identified radicalization processes and offender biographies.

The psychologists evaluate and assess files, other documents and case chronologies. As a result, they prepare case-analytical biographical analyses and individual risk profiles that can be used in court. Throughout their work, they advise and support police investigations with their psychological expertise. They are also in constant professional exchange of information with other security authorities and external agencies. They work at state and federal level.

The work of the psychologists also includes the further development of concepts, guidelines, standards and instruments for risk assessment and results controlling as well as lecturing activities as part of further training and awareness-raising measures. In addition, the structures of psychosocial support (PSU) for police employees in NRW are currently being reorganized and expanded as a pillar of official health management. As part of this reorganization, Regional Psychosocial Support Units (RPSU) are being established in the six police headquarters in Bielefeld, Dortmund, Düsseldorf, Essen, Cologne and Münster. The tasks of the RPSU include counseling and support activities to maintain health in close coordination with the central office.