Main Division Services

The Services main division is headed by Thomas Kräuchi and performs administrative and supportive duties.

Identification of People and Traces The AFIS/DNA Services is the national competence and service centre for the biometric identification of persons and traces. Identification is carried out using the Automated Fingerprint Identification System database (for fingerprint and palm identification) and the DNA profile database CODIS.

Swiss Passport and Identitiy Card The Services main division is the competent federal office for the Swiss passport and identity card, and is the service interface between the manufacturers of the documents, the issuing authorities (cantons and Swiss diplomatic missions abroad) and the public. It is further responsible for developing new documents such as the e-passport containing biometric data. Also, it operates the identity documents information system (ISA database) and provides the public with information.

Identity and Legitimation Documents The Services main division maintains an identity document reference collection database containing information on identity and legitimation documents from countries around the world. Also, it co-ordinates inquiries on identity documents and registers cases of identity document misuse. The Coordination Unit for Identity and Legitimation Documents (KILA) issues the police, Border Guard Corps and other authorised agencies in Switzerland and abroad with the certificates required to verify the data contained in the new electronic identity documents.

Missing Persons The Services main division conducts investigations on behalf of private persons, official agencies and national/international organisations on the whereabouts of missing persons in Switzerland and abroad, provided the missing person is not wanted by the police.

Arms and Explosives The Services main division is the supervisory body for the enforcement of arms and explosives legislation. It monitors the import and manufacture of explosives and pyrotechnical objects, and the import of weapons and ammunition into Switzerland. It also issues certificates for the export of weapons and provides advice to agencies, authorities, representatives from industry and private persons.

Violence at Sporting Events The Services main division assists in fighting violence at sporting events by operating the HOOGAN database, by functioning as National Football Information Point (NFIP) and by acting as Single Point of Contact at international sporting events involving Switzerland.

Police Information Systems The Services main division is responsible for the main IT needs of the Federal Office of Police. It plans, develops and operates the national police databases RIPOL, JANUS, IPAS and ORMA, and manages IT projects. It is also responsible for operating and developing the Schengen Information System interface, for co-ordinating automatic data exchange with international partner agencies and for co-ordinating technical matters between the EU and Switzerland’s national partners. Also, the Services division plans and manages the processing of police information, and optimises in-house data processing.

The ICT Management and Services Division ensures that fedpol’s IT resources are used economically and effectively. The division advises fedpol’s management, project leaders and the various organisational divisions in matters relating to project management and resources. The integration manager represents fedpol’s interests when dealing with service providers and coordinates IT integration into fedpol’s core tasks.

The National Police Information Systems Division coordinates and implements various IT projects within fedpol, especially those relating to the national police databases RIPOL, JANUS, IPAS and ORMA. The division is responsible for training users, application management and the maintenance of these systems.

Police Information Systems I is a section in charge of IT planning and operating and developing the RIPOL database including the training of its users. The database contains entries on wanted persons, on stolen or missing vehicles or objects, and on unsolved crimes. It provides fast and streamlined information to law enforcement agencies throughout Switzerland.

Police Information Systems II is a section responsible for IT planning within the main division Federal Criminal Police and for the coordination and implementation of the JANUS, IPAS and ORMA projects.

RIPOL Investigations – Wanted Persons, a special domain, is in charge of alerts on wanted persons and of ensuring that the legal requirements for international alerts in the RIPOL and SIS databases are complied with. It also advises the agencies entering the alert and checks their entries.

RIPOL Investigations – Missing Objects and Unsolved Crimes is responsible for international alerts on stolen or missing vehicles and objects in the RIPOL, SIS and Interpol databases. It also advises the agencies registering the alert and checks their entries.

The NSIS and International Applications Section is responsible for the smooth operation and further development of NSIS. This includes making sure that the interface connections to the Schengen Information System SIS function and ensuring coordination between the EU and its Swiss partners. The section also acts as a coordination bureau for cooperation with Interpol’s General Secretariat by ensuring the automatic exchange of data with agencies abroad.

PPS is a special domain that houses the national committee for Planning, Project Management and Standardisation in Processing Police Information.