Averting danger/maintaining public safety and order

Measures to prevent damage that could occur to individuals or the general public if the authorities do not intervene in the course of events are referred to as "security".

The security authorities and the police have the common task of averting danger. The police shall only act in the performance of the tasks of averting danger if the security authorities do not appear to be able to avert danger in good time. The preventive fight against criminal offences (as a sub-incident of hazard prevention) is the responsibility of the police.

The district administrations, district-specific cities, non-affiliated cities, non-affiliated municipalities, large district-affiliated cities and association municipalities are responsible security authorities for tasks of hazard prevention, unless special jurisdiction regulations have been made.