Organization

Main Division Federal Criminal Police

Tasks

The main division of the Federal Criminal Police (FCP) is headed by Michael Perler and conducts criminal investigations.

Criminal Investigations The FCP conducts preliminary and criminal investigations into all offences under federal jurisdiction. Thus the FCP is responsible for prosecuting the most serious forms of transnational crime such organised crime and economic crime. It also investigates cases of suspected terrorist activity and terrorist financing, offences relating to state security or espionage, criminal acts in connection with federal elections, and violations of legislation on war materials, nuclear energy, dual-use goods control and aviation. Moreover, it investigates cases of malfeasance in office, bribery and the corruption of officials as well as cases involving genocide or counterfeit currency. Also, the FCP is responsible for executing international requests for mutual assistance in cases under federal jurisdiction.

Co-ordination of intercantonal and international investigations The FCP co-ordinates intercantonal and international investigations, manages the criminal police central offices and ensures the exchange of police information with the cantons, foreign law enforcement agencies, INTERPOL and Europol in connection with cases involving organised crime, human trafficking and smuggling, paedophile crime, illegal pornography, cybercrime, drugs, illegal trafficking in cultural artefacts and counterfeit currency.

Cybercrime The FCP’s efforts in cybercrime fighting are focussed on paedophile crime and illegal pornography. To this end, it operates the Swiss Co-ordination Unit for Cybercrime Control (CYCO), which is co-financed by the cantons who define through a management committee which types of cybercrime should be targeted. The Cybercrime Control Unit has three types of duties:

Monitoring (searching the Internet to identify criminal misuse; initial processing of incoming reports);
Clearing (legal assessment of incoming complaints as to criminal relevance; coordination with pending proceedings; forwarding of complaints to the appropriate prosecution authority in Switzerland and abroad);
Analysis (nationwide analysis of Internet crime, cross-case account of criminal methods and devices; statistics and trends).

Analysis The FCP is also responsible for the Federal Office of Police’s Analysis and Reporting Centre, conducting cross-case analyses on organised and economic crime, terrorism and terrorist financing as well as specific themes relating to general crime. In addition, the FCP compiles reports on criminal operation methods and criminal-group profiles, and provides key recommendations to its investigative units through operational criminal analysis. To provide specific assistance with investigations, the FCP also has a range of specialist staff and units such as surveillance forces, IT investigators, undercover investigators, fugitive investigators and its own special task force.