Police cooperation
From human traffickers and illegal arms dealers to ATM raiders, money launderers and cybercriminals, organised crime adapts its methods to our globalised and digital world. National and international cooperation is an essential cornerstone in combating it.
Cooperation at national level
Unlike many other countries, Switzerland does not have a national police force. Instead, responsibility for maintaining public order lies with the police forces of its communes, cities and cantons. Each canton is responsible for policing its own territory, and each has its own police law and information systems. Fedpol is not a superordinate authority, but works alongside these police forces to safeguard internal and external security. Fedpol also investigates cases that fall within the federal government's jurisdiction, such as those involving terrorism. In addition, it liaises between individual cantonal police forces and international partners in cases with an international dimension that do not fall within federal jurisdiction.
The Conference of Cantonal Police Commanders of Switzerland (CCPCS) and the Conference of Cantonal Justice and Police Directors (CCJPD) are key partners for fedpol in ensuring efficient cooperation between the cantons. The CCPCS coordinates cooperation between the cantons in solving crimes that fall within cantonal jurisdiction and in prevention work. It also works to harmonise police doctrine and establish common strategies at national level. The CCJPD is a political body that represents the legislative interests of the cantons in police and judicial matters in relation to the federal government.
- Example of cooperation between the cantonal police and fedpol: Modern slavery in the free world
Cooperation at international level
International cooperation is based on a three-pronged strategy.
