Operational instruments
Negotiation unit
In exceptional situations involving kidnapping or blackmail abroad with a link to Switzerland, fedpol can help to resolve the situation with the assistance of specialists or provide its national and international partners with support. In the event of extraordinary occurrences abroad, such as natural disasters or other major incidents, fedpol can assist with distaster victim identification (DVI) operations, as in October 2023, when it deployed a team to support the Israeli authorities in identifying the victims of the Hamas terrorist attack. Fedpol maintains a pool of specially trained personnel for such missions and works closely with the relevant authorities in Switzerland, including the Federal Department of Foreign Affairs and the cantonal police forces, and abroad.
- Support in urgent identification – fedpol Annual Report
- Switzerland supports the International Criminal Court with forensic experts
Police Command Staff
The Police Command Staff (FSTP) has been operational since early 2015. It manages and coordinates police operations during national and supraregional events, such as the Eurovision Song Contest and the Women's European Football Championship. Currently a non-permanent unit of the Conference of Cantonal Police Commanders, the FSTP can be activated within hours if necessary. Fedpol is an integral part of this unit.
EMPACT – Pink Diamond
The European Multidisciplinary Platform Against Criminal Threats (EMPACT) is the European Union's permanent instrument for cooperation among customs, police and judicial authorities to combat serious and organised crime. Switzerland is an active member in the EMPACT network and is involved in all its Operational Action Plans, which are based on the EU’s four-year crime priorities. An example of Switzerland's involvement in EMPACT is its role as Action Leader of the Pink Diamond operation. The operation targets cross-border criminal groups specialising in robberies, burglaries and thefts from jewellery shops, factories, banks and cash-in-transit companies.
Example of INTERPOL and Europol working groups: Victim Identification Task Force (VIDTF)
Fedpol participates in the regular meetings of the Europol and INTERPOL working group (Victim Identification Task Force VIDTF) on identifying victims of child sexual abuse. The VIDTF is made up of specialists from more than 20 countries, including Switzerland. These specialists come together in workshops to analyse illegal pornographic material with the aim of identifying the perpetrators and victims. They also explore new investigative approaches, such as analysing background noises and the language of those involved. Since its establishment, the VIDTF has helped to identify more than 1,000 child victims and arrest around 300 suspects worldwide.