Police say they are being misrepresented by filming of arrests by members of the public. Some voices, notably Basel city police, are calling for restrictions on video content being made public. There are also moves within the right-wing Swiss People’s Party to bring the idea to parliament.
But cantonal police commanders see things differently, reports Swiss public broadcaster SRFExternal link. “We are of the opinion that a general ban on filming or photographing the police on duty is not feasible and not conceivable in a liberal constitutional state,” Adrian Gaugler, spokesman for the Conference of Cantonal Police Commanders, told SRF on Thursday. “The police do not have to hide when they do their work in public.”
The Conference of Cantonal Justice and Police Directors also rejects a ban on filming. “The police have a monopoly on the use of force in public spaces and should be subject to a certain degree of control by the population,” says co-president Karin Kayser-Fritschi. “A general ban could also damage the image and credibility of police work.”
Both the cantonal police commanders and the police directors see body cams for the police as a way of obtaining accurate facts about operations. The police corps of several cantons are planning to introduce such cameras.
Police around the world are increasingly being filmed by smartphones and other devices during arrests or when performing crowd control. In some countries, video evidence has led to civil unrest and action being taken against officers. However, there are complaints among police that some video clips are edited to highlight force being used by police, while important contextual information can be left out.
Popular Stories
More
Swiss Abroad
How centuries of Swiss emigrants left their mark on the US
What can be done to protect biodiversity in your country?
Swiss voters are set to decide on a people’s initiative calling for better protection of ecosystems in the country. Have your say on the September 22 vote.
Bodycams: essential for good law enforcement, or a privacy risk?
Did you ever come across bodycams in your place of residence and if so, how do you think the use of bodycams alter the relationship between the public and (transport) police?
Nigerian man’s death: family appeal acquittals of Swiss police
This content was published on
The family of a Nigerian man who died during his arrest in Lausanne in 2018 has appealed against the acquittal of six police officers.
You can find an overview of ongoing debates with our journalists here . Please join us!
If you want to start a conversation about a topic raised in this article or want to report factual errors, email us at english@swissinfo.ch.