The police in front of and behind the lens

The Association of Swiss Police Officers (VSPB) gathered for its 96th Delegates Conference on June 23 and 24, 2022. The incumbent President Johanna Ryer was confirmed for a further term of office. New members of the Executive Committee included Ivano Bodino from Ticino and Gerhard Schaub from Zurich.

What if police personnel are filmed?

Invited as guests and transmitters of important messages were Zurich Cantonal Councilor Mario Fehr, National Councilor Priska Seiler Graf and Gaby Kuratli, Kloten City Councilor. Five participants from Switzerland and abroad spoke on the topic of "Camera running: the police in front of and behind the lens". It also addressed the question of what police officers can do when they are filmed during operations.

From the point of view of the union and therefore the employee, Peter Smets, President EU.Pol and Regional Vice President VSOA-SLFP of the Police Belgium, said that filming while police officers are on duty is a difficult matter for them as private individuals.

In any case, a possible publication of possible recordings without appropriate release would have to be punishable by law and prosecuted. Mark Burkhard, president of the KKPS and commander of the Basel-Landschaft police, has a similar view and welcomes the use of body cams in principle, as they could contribute to a de-escalating effect.

However, attorney Lena Scheurer found that the consequences under labor law of the use of body cams for police officers have received little attention so far, because when it comes to enforcing personal rights, it is often the people affected who are in court as private individuals.

Source: Association of Swiss Police Officers VSPB