Endless threats

fedpol ensures the security of senior members of government and judges – including the Members of the Federal Council, Parliament and Federal Courts – and the employees of the Federal Administration. fedpol is also in charge of protecting foreign persons who are protected under international law and diplomatic missions in Switzerland. The number of threats made against persons under fedpol protection has been increasing without interruption for the past three years. In 2021, 1,215 reports were made to fedpol – sadly, this was 330 more than the year before.

If a person under fedpol protection becomes the target of threats or hate mail, they or their entourage report this to fedpol. Every single report is thoroughly analysed and evaluated.

Note on statistics: if several reports are made on the same day about the same person, this is recorded statistically as one report.

Warning letters and preventive dialogue: these are tools fedpol can use when someone has been making particularly offensive or aggressive statements against someone else. This helps make it clear that their actions border on criminal liability.

Victims of threats can file a criminal complaint. In the case of ex officio offences – for instance in cases of coercion, incitement to hatred or incitement to violence – fedpol investigates automatically and reports the cases to the Office of the Attorney General.

In 2021, fedpol took further measures (preventive dialogue, criminal charges) in 120 cases.