Braunschweig and Gifhorn plan merger of emergency dispatch centers

The district of Gifhorn is preparing to transfer its emergency dispatch responsibilities to the Integrated Regional Dispatch Center (IRLS) in Braunschweig. A letter of intent was signed on September 3, 2026, by Gifhorn District Administrator Philipp Raulfs and Braunschweig Mayor Thorsten Kornblum, with the goal of completing the transition by January 1, 2028.

Under the proposed plan, Gifhorn will leave its current virtual Heide association with Celle and Uelzen to join the Braunschweig center, which already serves Wolfenbüttel and Peine. This merger would create a large-scale dispatch hub covering an area from the Harz mountains to the Lüneburg Heath. While the dispatching and coordination of emergency calls will move to Braunschweig, emergency responders and stations within the Gifhorn district will remain in their current locations.

The transition involves several technical and organizational steps, including the integration of all Gifhorn dispatch staff into the Braunschweig center to ensure long-term career prospects. The final details will be formalized in a purpose agreement by the end of 2026, subject to approval from the Braunschweig City Council, the Gifhorn District Council, and the municipal supervisory authority of the Ministry of the Interior.