Ministry of the Interior of Germany facts for kids

Quick facts for kids
Ministry of the Interior

Bundesministerium des Innern
Agency overview
Formed	1879 as the "Reich Office of the Interior"
Jurisdiction	Government of Germany
Headquarters	Berlin
Minister responsible	Horst Seehofer Bundesminister des Innern
Website	www.bmi.bund.de

The Ministry of the Interior of Germany (often called the BMI) is an important part of the German government. It's like a main office that helps run the country. Its main building is in Berlin, in an area called Moabit. There's also another office in Bonn.

This ministry is in charge of things like keeping people safe and managing the police. It's similar to the British Home Office. In Germany, each state also has its own ministry for interior affairs.

What the Ministry of the Interior Does

The Federal Ministry of the Interior is responsible for many important tasks inside Germany. It works to keep everyone safe and secure. This includes protecting the country's basic laws, called the constitution.

The ministry also helps organize how the government works. It looks after public services and civil defense, which means preparing for emergencies. They also handle information technology for the government. Plus, they even deal with sports! The BMI also buys cars for the federal government and has its own office to register them.

Keeping People Safe and Sound

The BMI also makes sure that federal government workplaces are safe and healthy. While German states have their own safety rules, the BMI sets these rules for all federal offices. It also keeps a record of any accidents that happen.

Teams Working with the BMI

The Ministry of the Interior works with many different agencies. These agencies help the ministry do its job. Here are some of the important ones:

• Federal Office of Migration and Refugees (BAMF): This agency helps people who come to Germany from other countries.
• Federal Police (BPol): This is Germany's national police force. They help keep borders safe and deal with serious crimes.
• Federal Criminal Police Office (BKA): This is like Germany's FBI. They investigate major crimes and work with police forces around the world.
• Federal Office for the Protection of the Constitution (BfV): This agency works to protect Germany's democracy and constitution from threats.
• Federal Office of Information Technology Security (BSI): This team makes sure that government computers and data are safe from cyber attacks.
• Federal Office of Civil Protection and Disaster Assistance (BBK): This agency helps Germany prepare for and respond to disasters like floods or storms.
• Federal Statistical Office (destatis): This office collects and shares important information about Germany, like how many people live there.
• Emergency Relief Organization (THW): This group provides technical help during emergencies, like rescuing people or clearing paths.

These are just some of the many teams that work under the Ministry of the Interior to keep Germany running smoothly and safely.

Leaders of the Ministry

The person in charge of the Ministry of the Interior is called the Federal Minister of the Interior. Here is a list of the people who have held this important job since 1949: