Mr. Max-Peter Ratzel pursued his career in the German Federal
Criminal Police Office (Bundeskriminalamt – BKA) from 1976 to 2005. Until 2000, he held positions of senior adviser and head of unit in the areas of information and technology, organised crime, property crime, international cooperation and he was in charge of the Cabinet Office of the Directorate of the BKA.

From 2000 to 2005, Mr. Ratzel headed the Organised and General
Crime Department in the BKA, with up to 950 officers under his leadership. In that capacity he coordinated among others, the prevention of and fight against international illicit drug trafficking, child pornography, Internet crime, the spread of counterfeit money and trafficking in human beings.

During his professional career, Mr. Ratzel was involved in investigations, crime analysis, reporting on organised crime in Germany, developing organised crime related legislation and similar activities as well as international relations. In 1993, Mr. Ratzel did an internship in the French National Police Institute (Institute National de Formation de la Police) in Clermont-Ferrand.
On 16 April 2005, Mr. Ratzel assumed the post of Director of the
European Police Office – Europol.