Support for police reform

Supporting police reforms in partner states and international training programmes are an important part of international police cooperation. Reform and training measures not only improve international cooperation, but also help to fight crime in the partner countries and increase Switzerland’s national security.

The Middle European Police Academy (MEPA) plays an important part in helping to improve cross-border cooperation through training programmes. In order to fight the more serious forms of transnational, organised crime, emphasis is placed on teaching special skills needed for international and cross-border police work, on aspects of police conduct and on the social, economic and political conditions in the countries involved. MEPA courses are aimed at leaders who are involved in operations in the field of organised crime-fighting. In order to take part in a course, participants must have advanced police training, several years of police experience and a good command of German. Courses for Swiss police are usually directed at officers from the Federal Criminal Police, the Service for Analysis and Prevention, the Border Guard Corps and the cantonal and municipal police corps. .Besides Switzerland, other MEPA members include Germany, Austria, Poland, Slovakia, Slovenia, the Czech Republic and Hungary.

By supporting police reform networks can be established with other international police authorities, which facilitates police work. At the same time, support in the police sector also creates a feeling of mutual assistance towards Switzerland, which is reflected by the willingness of other states to assist Switzerland in policing matters should the need arise. For this reason fedpol takes an active part in supporting the Swiss Agency for Development and Cooperation in planning and implementing the regional programme for justice and police reform in south-eastern Europe. Cooperation in this field is focussed primarily on the project known as "Organised Crime Training Network for operational managers in South Eastern Europe" (further information is available on the website of the Swiss Agency for Development and Cooperation SDC).