Berlin politician Berndt Krömer says transgender people may not be 'medically fit' to join city's police

LGBT activists say entry criteria is discriminatory

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An "intact hormonal system" is a requirement for those wanting to join the Berlin police, according to Berndt Krömer, a member of the city’s government responsible for security policy.

The Christian Democratic Union politician said that transgender and intersex people who wish to join the force may be turned away because of the medical treatments they have received in the past.

His statement came in answer to an enquiry by politician Tom Schreiber, Der Tagespiegel reported on Friday, who asked: "Can applicants to the police and fire service be found unfit for service because they have previously undergone sex reassignment surgery?"

In response, Krömer cited "operatively removed testicles" as well as "breast implants or hormone treatment" as potential reasons for rejection, due to the increased risk of injury and health complications.

When assessing whether an applicant is medically fit to serve in the Berlin police, he noted that "potential secondary conditions or the need for further operations have to be taken into account".

Jörg Steinert, regional director of the German Lesbian and Gay Federation, said in a statement released on Friday: "The criteria used to determine fitness for duty by the police and fire service are discriminatory."

"Instead of inter- and trans-gender people pathologizing and to exclude an individual service suitability test should take place. The Berlin Senate should correct their own hiring practices to that effect."

In 2014, the Administrative Court of Berlin ruled against the Berlin police’s decision to reject the application of a police trainee on the grounds that her breast implants were too great a risk in use.