North Rhine-Westphalia's police embrace OSINT to combat digital threats
North Rhine-Westphalia’s police force is stepping up its digital capabilities with a major push into Open Source Intelligence (OSINT). The initiative includes expanded teams, new training programmes, and specialised units to strengthen law enforcement’s online operations. The effort marks a significant shift in how the state tackles politically motivated crime and national security threats. The State Criminal Police Office (LKA) in Düsseldorf has scaled up its OSINT operations under Fabian Coenen, a 42-year-old leading Subdivision 22.2. What began as a two-person team has now grown into a 16-strong subdivision, bringing together IT experts, sociologists, and political scientists. Their focus lies on politically motivated crime, with six specialised units supporting urgent national security operations.
In September 2024, the ‘Digital Patrol’ project further expanded the LKA’s workforce by ten officers. Nearly 100 additional police officers across six regional authorities were also integrated into the effort. Training these officers falls to Marc Restemeyer, a 37-year-old instructor at the State Office for Training, Professional Development, and Personnel Affairs (LAFP) in Neuss. His role includes preparing new LKA recruits and officers assigned to the Digital Patrol units. The training programme, developed by Restemeyer and other experts, ensures officers gain a standardised foundation in OSINT. Participants learn to gather and analyse information from publicly available sources like social media, all while staying legally compliant and operationally effective. Jannik Doktorowski, a 39-year-old detective chief inspector from Bielefeld, has described the skills taught as ‘next-level,’ drawing from his experience in state security.
The expansion of OSINT capabilities in North Rhine-Westphalia reflects a broader shift in modern policing. With larger teams, structured training, and specialised units, the state’s law enforcement is better equipped to handle digital threats. The initiative aims to make online investigations faster, more precise, and legally sound.
