Thousands of police officers are missing in the cantons

According to figures from the Conference of Cantonal Police Commanders (KKPKS), Switzerland could count on about 19,000 police officers working in cantonal and municipal forces at the beginning of 2022. The UN recommends that a country should have 300 police officers per 100,000 inhabitants, which equates to about 26,000 police officers in Switzerland (8.7 million inhabitants). According to this criterion, Switzerland would miss about 7,000 emergency services.

The top police officers do not want to get involved in such a debate. The security problems are very different worldwide and therefore cannot be answered with a fixed number, says KKPKS spokesperson Adrian Gaugler when asked.

For example, cities need more police than rural areas, Gaugler said. “But also here in Switzerland, the need for more police is increasing.”

Safety is still guaranteed

According to the KKPKS, Switzerland’s internal security is not in question. However, she explained that police forces are sometimes forced to prioritize their operations, which can sometimes lead to temporary closures. Efforts are being made in several cantons to increase the number of police officers, it said.

The Association of Swiss Police Officers VSPB believes that “sustainable improvements can only be achieved through structural adjustments within the force and with the support of politicians”, as it recently announced.

Working conditions need to be improved

In particular, the professional association of the police demanded an improvement in working conditions. He demanded a 100 percent cost-of-living adjustment and an increase in real wages. This upgrade is intended to keep the police profession attractive to the private sector. Insurance companies in particular sometimes hired former police officers as detectives, VSPB Secretary General Max Hofmann said when asked.

The VSPB pointed out that new laws often lead to more work for law enforcement agencies. An example is the anti-litter regulations that some cantons have issued. In such cases, the police resources should be created “parallel to the decision” for the ASPB.

Admission criteria should be relaxed

The union also believes that the profession should be made more attractive and that the admission requirements for police academies should be revised as they are considered “obsolete” in some places. VSPB Secretary General Max Hofmann mentions restrictions on candidates, such as the ban on tattoos or beards. In addition, there are some age restrictions from around 35 years old, which exclude potential applicants in the cantons.

The KKPKS supports certain requirements. She recalled recent measures that allow foreigners with a C permit to join the police in some cantons such as Neuchâtel or Jura. (SDA)