Police
Latest news and information about policing and police issues in Switzerland.
Can foreign residents join Switzerland's police forces?
The Swiss city of Lausanne said it could start hiring foreign nationals for its police force. But what are the general rules around Switzerland when it comes to who can become a police officer?
FACT CHECK: Are Swiss police stations only open in the morning?
A recent social media clip posted by an American resident of Zurich suggests that police stations in Switzerland open their doors on a limited schedule. Is this actually so?
'Man of African origin' dies in Swiss police station after arrest
A man of "African origin" collapsed and died at a Lausanne police station less than an hour after being arrested, Swiss prosecutors said Monday as they launched a criminal investigation.
Swiss slap entry ban on Austrian far-right radical Sellner
Radical Austrian nationalist Martin Sellner, who advocates mass expulsions of foreigners, has been barred from entering Switzerland.
Acquittal of six police officers in Swiss 'George Floyd' case confirmed on appeal
A Swiss appeals court confirmed Monday the acquittal of six police officers over the death of a Nigerian man, in a case that drew comparisons to George Floyd's killing in the United States.
How free are people to protest in Switzerland?
As a centre of international diplomacy and cooperation and with its unique system of direct democracy, Switzerland enjoys a reputation for upholding fundamental human rights—but how free are the Swiss to express their opposition to power?
Six injured as car rams into crowd in Switzerland
Five children and a woman were injured on Sunday when a car accidentally rammed into people gathered for a target shooting festival in Switzerland, police said.
Why you might be stopped by the police in Switzerland
It goes without saying that you don’t want to attract the attention of law enforcement officers, regardless of your nationality. Here’s what you should know about the reasons you might be stopped in Switzerland.
Switzerland jails 84-year-old bank robber
Swiss authorities have sent an 84-year-old bank robber to prison. The man, who robbed the same bank twice, had hoped his age would see him avoid sentencing.
Two mountaineers killed and 9 injured in ice fall in Swiss mountains
A Frenchwoman and a Spaniard were killed and nine other mountaineers were injured on Friday in an ice fall in southwest Switzerland, police said following a rescue attempt involving several helicopters.
Swiss woman indicted over 'jihadist knife attack' in department store
Swiss prosecutors said Wednesday they had indicted a woman for attempted murder on behalf of the Islamic State (IS) group over a brutal knife attack in November 2020.
Swiss police: French family leapt off hotel balcony 'one by one'
A French family gripped by conspiracy theories jumped one by one from their seventh-floor apartment in the Swiss town of Montreux in a "collective suicide", police investigating the mystery said on Tuesday.
Family of four die after plunging from Swiss balcony
Four members of a French family plunged to their deaths Thursday from a seventh-floor balcony in the Swiss town of Montreux, leaving a teenager seriously injured.
Case dropped against second Swiss man over Vienna attack 'links'
Swiss prosecutors said Thursday they had dropped the case against a second Swiss man over alleged links to a deadly shooting rampage in Vienna due to a lack of evidence.
Why do foreigners 'commit more violent crimes' than the Swiss?
New statistics show that most crimes in Switzerland are committed by foreign nationals, including those of a violent nature. Experts explain why that is.
Switzerland to legalise recreational and medical cannabis usage
Switzerland will draw up a draft law for the legalisation of cannabis usage, after a parliamentary commission ruled the drug should no longer be banned.
‘It only lasted 11 minutes’: Why this rape sentence has caused an outcry in Switzerland
The verdict in a rape trial in the canton of Basel has caused a widespread outcry in Switzerland, after the judge justified a shortened sentence because the rape had “only lasted for 11 minutes”.
Why Swiss officials are fearing a ‘revolution of the vaccinated’
According to an internal report, the Swiss government is fearful of protests among the vaccinated. Here’s why.
Switzerland's new 'Guantanamo-style' terrorism law draws international criticism
From the UN to Amnesty International, fears abound that a new Swiss anti-terror law, which grants sweeping new powers to police to prevent future attacks, threatens Switzerland's heritage as a human rights leader.
Swiss police under fire for 'arbitrarily' targeting foreigners in canton of Aargau
Aargau police accused foreign nationals travelling through Switzerland of committing crimes, a report shows.
Swiss police clear months-long quarry protest
Swiss police on Tuesday swooped down on environmental protesters who have been occupying a quarry owned by Franco-Swiss cement giant LafargeHolcim for months to protest against its plans to expand the site.
Safety in Switzerland: Which areas do Zurich residents avoid at night?
Zurich is known as one of the world’s safest cities - but a new poll shows residents still avoid some areas at night.
Switzerland: Police must publish suspects’ nationality after referendum vote
Switzerland on Sunday voted to force police to make the nationality of a suspect public. However an effort to require police publicise a suspect’s ethnicity failed at the ballot box.