"Your personal details, please." This is how the police officer asks Harry for personal information. This can include a person's name, date and place of birth, marital status, profession, address and nationality. Normally, police officers would have also asked him for his proof of identity in order to check the information. In Germany, carrying an official form of identification is compulsory. This means that all citizens over the age of 16 must have official proof of identity. The official identification document in Germany is an identity card or passport. Unlike the United States, for example, a driver's license is not accepted as proof of identity.

The obligation to have an ID does not mean you always have to carry your ID with you. But it is better to show your ID in case the police stop you. Otherwise, you may be taken to the police station so that your identity can be confirmed. If you come from a non-EU country, it is also important to be able to show your residence permit or a tourist visa.

The police officer questioned Harry because he was suspected of being a thief. In Germany, the police are only allowed to carry out checks on people if there is a specific reason. Apart from that, police are not allowed to stop and search a person because of discriminatory factors, such as skin color.