THE WEST GERMAN CONSTITUTION LEAVES POLICE POWERS IN THE COUNTRY IN THE HANDS OF THE SEVERAL STATES. AS A FEDERAL AGENCY THE BKA IS RESTRICTED TO THE FUNCTIONS OF RESEARCH, TRAINING, AND -- MOST IMPORTANTLY -- NATIONAL CRIMINAL POLICE RECORDS AND INFORMATION SERVICES. THE BKA CAN INVESTIGATE CASES AT THE REQUEST OF THE STATES AND DOES SO IN AN INCREASING NUMBER OF CASES THAT INVOLVE INTERSTATE AND INTERNATIONAL CRIMINAL ACTIVITIES OR OTHER FACTORS REQUIRING INVESTIGATIVE METHODS BEYOND THE RESOURCES OF THE STATE-LEVEL POLICE FORCES. BRIEFLY DESCRIBED ARE THE BKA'S COMPUTER AND DATA PROCESSING CENTER, COSTS AND PERSONNEL, PROTECTION OF HIGH-RANKING FEDERAL OFFICIALS, INSTITUTE FOR CRIMINAL TECHNOLOGY, INSTITUTE OF CRIMINOLOGY, AND RECRUITMENT OF DETECTIVE OFFICERS.