URDANETA CITY UNIVERSITY

San Vicente West, Urdaneta City

College of Criminal Justice Education

COMPARATIVE MODELS OF POLICING

(SWITZERLAND POLICING SYSTEM)

Table of Contents

A. Agency Name/ Law Enforcement Agencies

B. Short History of Law Enforcement Agencies
C. Mission and Vision
D. Police Activities
E. Recruitment and Training
 Qualifications
 Screening Process
 Status of Police Training
 Promotion and Opportunities (Both men and women)
F. Police Assignments
G. Police Organizational Structure
H. Police Ranks and it’s Equivalent to PNP Ranks

Subject/ Code: LEA 2P-P136

Course/ Year/ Block: BS-CRIMINOLOGY II/ Block 3

Submitted by:
Antonio, Mark Anthony C.
Aquino, Rocky V.
Muyrong, Arthur Kareem

Submitted to:
Adeline H. Ellasos
CCJE Instructress
 A. AGENCY NAME/ LAW ENFORCEMENT AGENCIES

The Swiss police system consists of Federal Police, which fulfill specific functions listed
in the Constitution, and cantonal police, which perform all other law enforcement duties. The
state executive and parliament regulate the Federal Police. Each canton has substantial
discretion, within the broad parameters of Switzerland’s international obligations and
Constitution, to organize, train, equip and regulate its own police force.

Due to the country’s federal structure and cantonal sovereignty in police affairs, there is
no single national police force in Switzerland. The three levels of police are Federal, Cantonal,
and communal.

Federal Police

The Federal Police only have jurisdiction where the Constitution explicitly grants it.
These areas include international and federal crimes, as well as criminal activity involving
multiple cantons. The Federal Police also play a coordinating role, providing assistance to
cantonal police forces and overseeing the collection and dissemination of law enforcement
information to all Swiss police. In addition to these duties, the government may charge the
Federal Police with preventing and investigating crimes of special significance to Swiss law
enforcement, such as human trafficking and money laundering.

Cantonal Police

All law enforcement duties not specifically allocated to the state belong to the cantons,
which perform the majority of general police duties. These duties include the maintenance of
law and order, investigations of non-federal crimes, and enforcement of traffic laws. Several
cantons also administer supplementary municipal police forces. Each canton determines the
structure, responsibilities, financing, and outfitting of its own police force. In doing so, the
cantons are required to ensure that each police force complies with Swiss constitutional law,
other state law, and international treaty law, including the European Convention on Human
Rights.

Communal Police

The municipal police of Switzerland are a series of separate forces maintained by

the municipalities of each canton. There are between 100 and 300 municipal police forces. Most
of these forces are responsible for general law and order and parking enforcement only. In
some larger cities, the municipal police also carry out traffic control and
in Zurich, Winterthur and Lausanne they provide a full policing service.

B. SHORT HISTORY OF THE LAW ENFORCEMENT AGENCY/ AENCIES

The history of the police in Switzerland is also the history of the formation of
our modern liberal state. The occupation of police officer in the modern sense has
thus existed only for about 150 years. Murder, fraud and theft, on the other hand,
are as old as humankind, and so is the function of the police officer. For centuries,
the boundaries between the administration, the military, the police and the judiciary
were quite fluid, and policing power was often in the hands of the ruling elite, or
even an individual ruler.

Societies in ancient Europe needed law enforcers and crimefighters. In

ancient Rome, the army was primarily responsible for keeping order in the markets
and streets. After the fall of Rome, the political system in Europe largely collapsed.
It was not until Charlemagne (768-814) reorganised Europe that there was once
again a functioning body politic, and therefore the function of police officer, on the
territory of what is now Switzerland.
 C. MISSION AND VISION

Mission

By working in partnership with the community, we strive to promote public safety and
crime prevention through education and enforcement; to maintain public order while preserving
the legal rights of all individuals; to provide efficient and courteous service; and to reduce the
impact of crime.

Vision

Police Department strives to provide a crime-free and safe environment through

strategic policing, integrity, respect and strong community partnerships.

D. POLICE ACTIVITIES

Federal Police

The Federal Police performs the following functions:

a. Protection of the constitutional state and democratic principles.

b. The internal security of Switzerland.
c. Combat crime, especially crimes that threaten the state.
d. Protection of employees and the Confederation Buildings, as well as people and
buildings that are protected by the international law.
e. Maintain of contacts with national and international law enforcement agencies.

Cantonal Police

There are 26 cantons in Switzerland. The police structure varies in them. In the
German-speaking cantons the police have three main areas of activity: the investigation of
criminal offenses, security, and road safety.

Communal Police

The main direction of the police of cities and communities is the investigation of
administrative and minor offenses.

E. RECRUITMENT AND TRAINING

 QUALIFICATIONS

All candidates must meet the following requirements: the Swiss citizenship, from 20 to
35 years, the finishing of high public school (grade 9) or secondary school, the diploma of the
Commercial College, the impeccable reputation (no criminal record, the absence of debt), the
driving license category “B”, the height is from 170 centimeters for men and from 160
centimeters for women. In addition, people who have tattoos that are visible when wearing a
shirt with short sleeves are not allowed to the police.

 SCREENING PROCESS

To apply for the police force, a person has to pass a multi-level selection. He/she should
pass a series of tests, including the knowledge of the German language, motivation, social
competence, and intellectual ability. A person has to pass the athletic test and an interview.
Finally, he/she must be examined by a doctor.

 STATUS OF POLICE TRAINESS

The trainee position is a non-sworn, entry-level training position. Employees in this

classification are temporary, at will employees with only mandatory benefits as required by law,
and do not have police officer status while attending the academy
  PROMOTION OPPORTUNITIES(Men and Women)

Police Officer salaries in Switzerland range between 3,115 CHF per month (minimum
salary) to 11,700 CHF per month (maximum salary).The median salary is 7,901 CHF per month,
which means that half (50%) of people working as Police Officer are earning less than 7,901
CHF while the other half are earning more than 7,901 CHF. The median represents the middle
salary value. Generally speaking, you would want to be on the right side of the graph with the
group earning more than the median salary.Closely related to the median are two values: the
25th and the 75th percentiles. Reading from the salary distribution diagram, 25% of people
working as Police Officer are earning less than 4,957 CHF while 75% of them are earning more
than 4,957 CHF. Also from the diagram, 75% of people working as Police Officer are earning
less than 10,585 CHF while 25% are earning more than 10,585 CHF.

 POLICE TRAINING

The training requirements for police officers are laid down by the canton and the police
force concerned. A principle of hiring before training applies. You apply to become a member of
the police force and then attend police college if you selected for job. The police-school Eastern
Switzerland in Amriswil offers a comprehensive basic training for future police officers of six
cantons, two cities and of Leichtenstein.

F. POLICE ASSIGNMENTS

Law enforcement in Switzerland is mainly responsible of 26 cantons of Switzerland,

who each operate cantonal police agencies. Some cities also operate municipal police agencies
as provide a cantonal law. The federal government provides specialized services and is
responsible for the protection of the swiss border.

G. POLICE ORGANIZATIONAL STRUCTURE

Switzerland is one of the most peaceful countries in the world. Due to the federal structure
of the country and the sovereignty of the cantons in police matters, there is no unified national
police organization in Switzerland. The federal system and a three-level administrative division
of the country are also reflected in the structure of the Swiss police. There are 26 cantons in
Switzerland. The police structure varies in them. In the German-speaking cantons the police
have three main areas of activity: the investigation of criminal offenses, security, and road
safety. In French-speaking cantons the police consist of two divisions: the Gendarmerie and
security (sûreté). The country has about 300 units of the public police. The main direction of
the police of cities and communities is the investigation of administrative and minor offenses.

H. POLICE RANKS AND ITS EQUIVALENT TO PNP RANKS