fedpol on duty for Switzerland – anytime & anywhere

The world seems to be falling apart with wars, polarisation, hatred, anti-Semitism, racism and climate change. All this has a knock-on effect on Switzerland. In the midst of it all, fedpol is on duty for Switzerland – anytime and anywhere. I am pleased to give you an insight into our work with our annual report.

The law enforcement authorities in Belgium, France and the Netherlands cracked the Sky ECC encrypted messaging network in 2021. Huge amounts of data became available, organised crime structures and networks were confirmed or became suddenly visible. Europol also provided Switzerland with its ‹country package› containing Sky ECC information relevant to Switzerland. This led to an intensive phase of data analysis for fedpol and the cantonal police forces and resulted in the first cantonal criminal court proceedings at the beginning of 2023 and in various investigations in the cantons and at federal level. National and international cooperation, meticulous investigations and careful data analysis had borne fruit.

In spring 2023, the hacker group ‹Play› launched a ransomware attack on the company Xplain, a fedpol service provider. Data were stolen and published on the darknet. Once again, fedpol began an intensive phase of data analysis. Thanks to its dedicated and highly competent employees and cooperation with partner authorities, fedpol was able to respond quickly and effectively to the attack and learn from the incident.

Then came 7 October 2023, when Hamas launched a terrorist attack on Israel and murdered almost 1,200 people. More than 250 people were kidnapped and taken hostage, triggering a military conflict between Israel and Hamas. Switzerland experienced a wave of anti-Semitism and threats against Jewish citizens and institutions. Existing security measures had to be strengthened. The Jewish community in Switzerland was unsettled.

Time and again we see that crime knows no borders – whether in real life or in digital space. We can only win the fight against cross-border crime through cooperation. That is why it is so important that cooperation and intelligence do not stop at borders; not at national borders, nor at cantonal borders.

«Anyone who works at fedpol is fully committed to fighting crime and to ensuring Switzerland’s security – we demonstrated this again in 2023. We don’t simply cope with crime – we fight it.»

National and international police cooperation is part of fedpol’s DNA.
Switzerland is a founding member of INTERPOL. At its 100th General Assembly, fedpol will once again take the opportunity to exchange ideas with the heads of 196 police authorities worldwide. International contacts are crucial when the police have to operate beyond territorial borders, yesterday, today and tomorrow. As an associated Schengen state, Switzerland is also a member of Europol and fedpol has a very busy liaison office in The Hague.

When members of our government travel to a crisis area, fedpol ensures cooperation with the authorities of the host country and the security of the Swiss delegation. When activists attempt to disrupt parliamentary business, fedpol works with the Bern Cantonal Police to ensure order. When federal and cantonal security and migration authorities need information in their daily work, fedpol provides them with information systems and the services of its competence centres around the clock.

2023 was an intense, challenging and instructive year. In the midst of it all, fedpol is on duty for Switzerland – anytime & anywhere.

I wish you an exciting read!

Nicoletta della Valle, Director of fedpol