Officers check the identity of a young man from Saudi Arabia who was driving his convertible Bentley too fast on the Mont-Blanc bridge and will receive a fine for speeding.
Didier Ruef
An officer asks a drunk Guinean man to go home.
Didier Ruef
The belongings of an Albanian man arrested for selling drugs: a watch, a lighter, an Albanian identity card with a photo, Euro and Swiss franc banknotes and an Albanian passport.
Didier Ruef
An officer searches a man from North Africa near the "Batiment des Forces Motrices" concert hall who was arrested for selling drugs in the street.
Didier Ruef
Two officers check the identity of a man arrested in possession of a handgun without a licence (l), and a view of the Geneva Fountain and a police car reflected in the glass facade of the Grand Hotel Kempinski.
Didier Ruef
An officer holds back a passer-by after a serious car accident on the Mont-Blanc Bridge.
Didier Ruef
Officers escort two handcuffed illegal immigrants arrested for squatting inside a derelict building.
Didier Ruef
Two Guinean men arrested for selling drugs wait for officers to scan their fingerprints.
Didier Ruef
Dinner time during the night shift: spaghetti bolognese, soft drinks and water.
Didier Ruef
Two police cars speed towards the neighbouring suburb of Versoix along the Rue de Lausanne in answer to an emergency call.
Didier Ruef
A North African arrested for car-jacking recovers after receiving pepper spray in his face.
Didier Ruef
A Guinean is held after being injured during a fight with another African; he is later released after refusing medical assistance (l), an interrogation cell is closed for cleaning and disinfection (r).
Didier Ruef
Patrolling the Paquis neighborhood known for its nightlife and red-light district. Most of the prostitutes here work on the streets.
Didier Ruef
A man arrested for shoplifting inside a patrol car. He is a well-known drug user who lives in Geneva and has been involved in burglaries and drug-related activities.
Didier Ruef
Officers search for squatters, usually illegal migrants sleeping inside empty buildings.
Didier Ruef
A police officer and a border guard hold a handcuffed French man who was arrested for shooting at a taxidriver (l), an officer checks the door of a shop that was burgled at night (r).
Didier Ruef
After being arrested for breaking a shop window, a drunk Guinean refugee who refuses to walk has to be dragged inside the police station.
Didier Ruef
Officers check the identities of a group of young men from the France and search them for illegal drugs. They were released after the control.
Didier Ruef
An officer searches the apartment of a known drug addict and prostitute. The woman is missing or has disappeared and has left behind all her belongings (l) including her abandoned Miniature Pinscher, which is now looked after by an officer. (r)
Didier Ruef
Officers check their phones while waiting for a locksmith to arrive after an apartment was burgled.
Didier Ruef
Two officers check the identity of a Guinean man and search him for illegal drugs, including inside his mouth. He is free to go after the procedure.
Didier Ruef
Swiss photographer Didier Ruef tailed officers from Geneva's central Pâquis district over 50 days.
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Ruef was embedded with police patrols from the Pâquis police station day and night and given total access. The police station, open 24 hours a day seven days a week, is based in one of the liveliest parts of the city, squeezed between the main station and the lake and known for its nightlife and red-light district.
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.
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Who’s to blame for the Swiss crime wave?
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“We were away for the weekend in Valais when it happened. Two young girls used screwdrivers to break into our third-floor apartment but were disturbed by an elderly neighbour who lives two floors below. They didn’t manage to steal anything but when he tried to stop them and call the police one of them tried…
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“It’s really serious…a massive con,” mutters Guéniat. What’s up? Pickpockets in Porrentruy? Has a group of watch thieves slipped through the net over the border into France? The police chief is angry about a “forgery” published recently in a couple of Swiss newspapers, which referred to Switzerland as “European burglary champion” based on a European…
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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.