Switzerland’s longstanding system of independent cantonal police is facing issues it wasn't designed to tackle, including police misconduct and international crime. Criminologist Daniel Fink recently co-authored a book that addresses these difficulties. In Switzerland, as in many countries, police misconduct and excessive use of force spark heated debate. Recently, the police’s image was tarnished by several scandals in Lausanne, including racist messages on police WhatsApp chats, and the death of a Nigerian man during his arrest. Daniel Fink and his co-author Silvia Staubli have just published a book called La police en Suisse (The Police in Switzerland) as part of the Savoir Suisse collection, a series that presents the latest research on a wide variety of Swiss topics. Fink, an expert in criminal statistics, highlights the current challenges faced by police, including operational efficiency, democratic legitimacy, and the constraints of Switzerland’s federal system. Daniel Fink ...
