Federal Police Chief Warns of Resource Crisis in Swiss Security

Outgoing Federal Police (Fedpol) director Nicoletta della Valle has issued a stark warning about the critical state of resources in Swiss law enforcement. In her final address before stepping down on January 31, della Valle emphasized that current funding levels are severely inadequate for police officers, prosecutors, and investigators to effectively combat organized crime. The veteran police chief highlighted that public awareness of security threats remains low, resulting in minimal pressure for increased funding allocation.

The Federal Police operates on an annual budget of CHF308 million ($334 million), which della Valle compared to the cost of just one and a half F-35 fighter jets. The limited funding has led to severe staffing strains, with employees accumulating overtime equivalent to 100 full-time positions annually. The police chief warned that this unsustainable workload could trigger an exodus of experienced personnel, using the striking metaphor 'If you squeeze the lemon too hard, employees will leave.'

A significant challenge highlighted by della Valle is the inefficient information exchange between Swiss law enforcement agencies. The national police data exchange system, Polap, remains underdeveloped, with numerous unresolved issues at the cantonal level. Paradoxically, Switzerland maintains better information sharing with Schengen area countries than within its own borders. These coordination challenges particularly impact the fight against terrorism and organized crime, identified as the federal police's top priorities.

The resource crisis in Swiss law enforcement poses significant risks for the future of national security. Della Valle warned that other countries only saw increased political support after experiencing serious security incidents. The combination of budget constraints, staff burnout, and coordination challenges threatens Switzerland's ability to maintain its high security standards. Additionally, concerns about money laundering legislation reforms suggest ongoing challenges in addressing financial crimes effectively.