The Alert Police (German: "Bereitschaftspolizei / BePo"), literally "Readiness or Standby Police" is available in each state for riot control, although their primary function is training police recruits. Beside this, the Federal Police maintains a "Bereitschaftspolizei" as well, to assist the state police forces if necessary. While the states are free to choose the equipment and to organize their police forces autonomously, the state and federal alert police units receive standardized weapons, vehicles, anti-riot gears and communications equipment from the federal government by law. An office in the Federal Ministry of Interior monitors and coordinates the deployment of the "BePo" units, which can be called upon to assist the police of other states in case of riots or other civil unrests.