Criminal prosecution in the field of terrorism: now the federal government wants to defund the cantons

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The Federal Council wants to investigate whether the Federal Public Prosecutor’s Office should be responsible for criminal prosecution in the field of terrorism. He wrote this in a report commissioned by Parliament on the division of responsibilities between the cantons and the federal government in criminal prosecution, which he approved on Wednesday.

Today, the cantons are generally responsible for criminal prosecution. In order to bring together specialist knowledge for complex, international files in one place, the federal government was given more powers in 2002 with the efficiency template. The Federal Council writes that the separation between the federal government and the cantons has generally proven successful.

More efficiency in the fight against terrorist crimes

However, he still wants to make selective adjustments in favor of greater efficiency, especially when it comes to the prosecution of terrorist crimes. He wants to investigate further whether all these crimes should fall under the jurisdiction of the Federal Public Prosecutor’s Office in the future.

As a rule, terrorist crimes cannot be limited to one area, neither in terms of perpetrators nor victims, he writes. The political dimension of terrorism also speaks in favor of federal responsibility.

Conversely, the Federal Council is considering reducing the burden on the Federal Public Prosecutor’s Office. He wants to transfer crimes within their jurisdiction that have little importance to state security to the cantons. He cites crimes against train conductors as an example.

Cybercrime also has consequences

The Federal Council is confronted with similar questions as with terrorism when it comes to cybercrime: quick action is necessary because otherwise evidence may be lost. And even in these crimes, territorial demarcations are often difficult.

The Federal Council therefore wants to introduce rules that will speed up the process for deciding responsibility. The Swiss Conference of Public Prosecutions could also develop recommendations for this.

The Federal Council rejects a specially created commission that could make a binding ruling on who is responsible for a specific case. The difficulties of setting up such a body are likely to significantly exceed the expected benefits, he writes. (SDA)

Source:Blick