ABSTRACT
The role of the civil police force in this situation was and is not simple: the nuclear waste storage facility 'Gorleben' is an unsolved political conflict. The police force's position in this matter is obviously unbiased; its only responsibility is law enforcement. The Chief of Police commissioned a workgroup composed of social scientists from the Department of Scientific Social Services (Sozialwissenschaftlicher Dienst) at the Lower Saxony Police Educational Institute and other police officials to develop a concept to achieve these goals. The focus was to be placed on the reduction of interpersonal conflicts — conflicts between police officials and demonstrators, individually or as a group, which had in the past led to escalations of violence resulting in severe bodily and emotional harm. Conflict Management played an important role in the Strategic Plan for the police escort of the nuclear waste transports in March 2001.
