Because they feel like the “whip boys” of the country: police officers demand a ban on films during operations

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The scene of the women’s demonstration in Zurich in mid-June was shocking: footage shows a Zurich police officer pulling a demonstrator’s hair at the women’s demonstration. The emergency services then used pepper spray against the participants in the demonstration.

A few weeks later, at the beginning of June, also in Zurich: someone films a police operation in which three police officers put a handcuffed boy on the ground.

Both incidents were filmed and shared on social media. Criticism was expressed in both cases. The accusation: the police have a violence problem.

The police feel threatened

However, many police officers feel unfairly pilloried by such videos, the “NZZ am Sonntag” reports. Criticizing them: The recordings were selectively selected and misrepresented their profession. The real victims are their employees, the police counter. Because they would be threatened by onlookers, activists and the media. Now they want to fight back.

“Many police officers are increasingly feeling like the ‘whip boy’ of the country and in some cases have been abandoned by politicians,” said Johanna Bundi Ryser, president of the National Association of Police Officers.

For example, the Basel-Stadt Police Officers Association wants to ban the filming of police actions. “If police actions are so blatantly falsified every time, banning videos during police operations should no longer be a taboo,” Vice President Harald Zsedényi is quoted in the article. The inhabitants of Basel want to campaign in the national union for a film ban.

Soon also a political problem at national level

This demand is now also being discussed at national level in parliament. The Valais SVP land councilor Jean-Luc Addor (59) has announced that he intends to submit a corresponding proposal in the autumn.

He should receive support from Lucerne Center National Councilor Ida Glanzmann (64). She demands that gawkers or people who distribute such videos be punished with fines in the future. She would welcome a film ban, but doubts whether such a thing can be introduced accordingly.

For the Aargauer FDP country councilor Maja Riniker (45), however, it is clear: “A film ban is not enforceable.” According to “NZZ am Sonntag” she would be much more in favor of the use of body cameras by police officers. This would allow the police to compare the videos on the internet with their own full recordings.

A film ban is also ruled out for the Young Socialists (Juso). On Sunday, they announced on Twitter: “Is it still possible? Independent ombudsman services are needed for those affected instead of a police brutality permit without consequences!” (Okay)

Source:Blick