The Berlin Administrative Court has ruled that police improperly used a 'pain grip' on a climate activist from the group Letzte Generation during a protest on April 20, 2023.

Civil rights advocates are hopeful that this ruling will prompt changes in police practices regarding the use of force during peaceful protests.

The incident involved Ritter being threatened with severe physical consequences if he did not comply, before being forcibly removed using painful holds.

In its decision, the court deemed the police's actions unlawful and excessive, noting there was no evidence that the activist, Ritter, was resisting arrest.

The court's decision is not yet final, as the police have the option to appeal to the Higher Administrative Court of Berlin-Brandenburg.

This landmark ruling is significant as it marks the first time a Berlin court has declared police pain compliance methods illegal in a specific case.

Judge Wilfried Peters emphasized that the police response was disproportionate, stating they could have removed the activist from the roadway without using force, especially since the situation had calmed.

The incident was filmed, and video clips of the police intervention circulated online, leading to investigations into potential excessive use of force.

Despite the court's ruling, the criminal case against the officers involved has been closed due to insufficient evidence of excessive force.

The ruling reinforces the necessity for police to employ the least forceful methods when dealing with demonstrators, highlighting that alternatives were available.

The protest group Letzte Generation has recently rebranded itself as 'Neue Generation,' expanding its focus to include democracy alongside climate action.

Ritter, a 21-year-old activist, argued that the use of pain grips violated the European Convention on Human Rights, particularly the prohibition against torture.