- Legal Basis
- §§ 102–110 StPO
- Sentencing Range
- Not a standalone offence; procedural measure under §§ 102–110 StPO. Unlawful searches may lead to exclusion of evidence
- Summary
- Court-ordered search of premises, persons, or property in connection with criminal investigations
House Search (Sections 102–110 StPO)
A house search (House Search) is one of the most intrusive coercive measures in German criminal procedure. It deeply interferes with the fundamental right to the inviolability of the home protected by Article 13 of the Basic Law. Precisely because a search represents a considerable burden for those affected, it is subject to strict legal requirements and formal rules whose observance can be decisive for the admissibility of evidence found. Expats in Germany should know their rights in this situation.
Legal Basis
The search of a suspect’s premises is regulated in Section 102 of the Code of Criminal Procedure (StPO):
“A search of the dwelling and other premises, as well as the person and belongings of anyone suspected as a perpetrator or participant in a criminal offence, or of aiding, abetting, or handling stolen goods, may be conducted both for the purpose of apprehending them and where it is to be presumed that the search will lead to the discovery of evidence.”
Section 103 StPO regulates searches of other persons (non-suspects). Section 105 StPO contains the judicial reservation: searches may generally only be ordered by a judge; in cases of imminent danger, also by the prosecution or its investigators.
Requirements in Detail
Initial suspicion: For searching a suspect’s premises (Section 102 StPO), an initial suspicion of a criminal offence must exist. For searching third parties’ premises (Section 103 StPO), concrete indications are required that specific evidence is located in the premises to be searched.
Judicial order: A search generally requires a judicial order (Section 105(1) StPO). This must sufficiently specify the alleged offence, the premises to be searched, and the evidence sought.
Imminent danger: Only in cases of imminent danger may the prosecution or police search without a judicial order. The requirements for justification are high — a mere assertion of urgency does not suffice.
Proportionality: The search must be suitable, necessary, and proportionate for achieving its purpose. For minor offences, a house search may be disproportionate.
Rights of Those Affected
Those affected have the right to be present during the search or to have a representative attend. There is a right to contact a lawyer immediately. The search must be documented (search protocol). A list of seized items must be provided. Those affected have the right to file legal remedies against the search order (Section 304 StPO).
Typical Search Situations
Common grounds for house searches include narcotics offences, fraud and white-collar crime cases, child pornography and sexual offences, tax crime cases, cybercrime proceedings, and organised crime. In practice, searches frequently occur in the early morning hours and may extend to the home, workplace, vehicles, and electronic devices.
Defence Approaches for House Searches
Reviewing the lawfulness of the search is of central importance for the admissibility of evidence. Typical points of attack include formal deficiencies in the search order (insufficient specificity, missing criminal allegation), the absence of a judicial order without actual urgency, exceeding the scope of the search purpose (incidental findings outside the order’s scope), violations of proportionality, and procedural errors in the seizure and confiscation. Unlawful conduct may establish a prohibition on the use of evidence and ultimately lead to discontinuation of proceedings or acquittal. It is strongly recommended to seek immediate legal assistance during a house search.
Frequently Asked Questions
Wann ist eine House Search zulässig?
In der Regel nur aufgrund eines richterlichen Search Warrantsbeschlusses (§§ 102, 105 StPO). Nur bei Gefahr im Verzug dürfen Staatsanwaltschaft oder Polizei ausnahmsweise ohne Beschluss handeln.
Wie verhalte ich mich richtig?
Lassen Sie sich den Beschluss zeigen, machen Sie keine Angaben zur Sache, stimmen Sie der Search Warrant nicht ausdrücklich zu, verlangen Sie ein Verzeichnis der sichergestellten Gegenstände und schalten Sie einen Verteidiger ein.
Kann ich gegen die Search Warrant vorgehen?
Ja. Die Rechtmäßigkeit lässt sich gerichtlich überprüfen; rechtswidrig erlangte Beweise können einem Verwertungsverbot unterliegen.
Muss ich zur Polizei, wenn ich als Beschuldigter vorgeladen werde?
Einer rein polizeilichen Police Summons müssen Sie als Beschuldigter nicht folgen, und Sie sind nie verpflichtet, sich zur Sache zu äußern. Einer Ladung der Staatsanwaltschaft oder des Gerichts sollten Sie folgen – schweigen dürfen Sie aber auch dort.
Sollte ich vor der Akteneinsicht aussagen?
In aller Regel nein. Ohne Kenntnis der Ermittlungsakte lässt sich nicht beurteilen, welche Beweise vorliegen. Eine Einlassung sollte erst nach Akteneinsicht und in Abstimmung mit dem Verteidiger erfolgen.
Kann ein Strafverfahren eingestellt werden?
Ja. Je nach Beweislage kommen eine Einstellung mangels hinreichenden Tatverdachts (§ 170 II StPO), wegen Geringfügigkeit (§ 153 StPO) oder gegen Auflagen (§ 153a StPO) in Betracht. Nach Akteneinsicht prüfen wir die Möglichkeiten.
Summons or accusation of House Search? What matters now
Make no statement to the police at first
As an accused person you are never obliged to comment on the allegation. Anything said to the police can be used against you. Provide statements only through your defense attorney and only after reviewing the case file.
File inspection comes first
A sound defense against the allegation of House Search requires knowledge of the investigation file. Only once the available evidence is clear can we decide whether a statement is advisable or whether remaining silent is the better strategy.
Possible discontinuation of proceedings
Not every case ends in a main hearing. Depending on the evidence and any prior record, the proceedings may be discontinued for lack of sufficient suspicion (§ 170 II StPO), for triviality (§ 153 StPO) or subject to conditions (§ 153a StPO). Often a penalty order without a public trial can be achieved.
Victim-offender mediation and restitution
In many cases, victim-offender mediation or making good the damage (§ 46a StGB) can significantly reduce the sentence or enable a discontinuation. Whether this is advisable in your case is something we assess based on the file.
What we do after reviewing the file
We examine the evidence for reliability and admissibility, look for procedural errors, develop the defense strategy, negotiate with the public prosecutor on a discontinuation and represent you, if necessary, in the main hearing before the District Court or Regional Court of Bonn.
Available 24/7: +49 228 504 463 36
This information does not replace a review of the individual case. In criminal proceedings, the defence strategy depends substantially on the case file, the specific allegation and the evidence.
Why BAFTEH Strafverteidigung?
- Direct contact with your defense attorney – no intermediaries
- Available around the clock, including nights and weekends
- Fast file inspection and a clear defense strategy
- Focused exclusively on criminal law
- Defense in Bonn, Cologne and the entire region
Written by attorney Philip Bafteh, criminal defense lawyer in Bonn. Philip Bafteh publishes regularly on criminal and commercial law and defends accused persons in investigative and trial proceedings.
More about the attorney →Last updated: Juni 2026
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