Threat Analysis Unit Remains

The specialist unit created by the public prosecutor's office, the cantonal police and the Psychiatric University Hospital Zurich supports the authorities in assessing possible threat and endangerment situations with forensic psychiatric expertise. During the two-year pilot phase, the demand for the service was very high, according to the statement. The government council has therefore decided to continue the specialist unit on a permanent basis. It will take on additional tasks.

In 2012, the government council defined the protection against violence and the fight against violence as a focus of law enforcement. Private individuals, as well as public offices and members of the authorities, are repeatedly confronted with threatening and endangering situations that are difficult to assess. Such situations should be recognized as early and reliably as possible and defused with rapid and situation-appropriate measures. To this end, the Canton of Zurich has set up a threat management system under the leadership of the cantonal police.

For reliable threat analysis, forensic psychiatric specialists are needed who can advise the competent authorities quickly and at a low threshold. For this reason, the Public Prosecutor's Office (Directorate of Justice), the Zurich Cantonal Police (Directorate of Security) and the Clinic for Forensic Psychiatry of the Psychiatric University Hospital Zurich (Directorate of Health) have established a specialist unit as part of a pilot project. It assesses concrete endangerment situations from a forensic psychiatric perspective. The specialist unit is called upon by the police in the event of current reports of danger and immediate measures. In addition, the public prosecutor's offices usually contact the unit in connection with the ordering of pre-trial detention, according to the report.

Need is shown

The specialist unit is operated by the Clinic for Forensic Psychiatry of the Psychiatric University Hospital Zurich. According to information, employees of the specialist unit have been present on site at the cantonal police almost daily since its launch in February 2014. The number of inquiries far exceeds original expectations, it said. In particular, the public prosecutor's offices would commission the specialist unit with significantly more analyses and reports than originally expected.

The pilot phase has shown that the services of the specialized unit meet a proven need. The assessments would be significantly

• to an early recognition of dangerous and threatening situations,
• to interventions appropriate to the situation,
• to appropriate procedural decisions by the prosecution authorities and
• contribute to the prevention of violent escalations and crimes.

The specialist unit has thus become an important component of the cantonal threat management system.

In the future, the specialist unit will also provide support in cases involving young people with a high potential for violence, it is announced. In addition, it will now also support psychiatric clinics in dealing with highly violent patients.