Fewer crimes, but more cybercrime

The police statistics once again show a stable security, crime and traffic situation for the Canton of Zug. The number of recorded offences has again decreased.

The number of traffic accidents in the canton of Zug increased slightly in 2019, with 811 traffic accidents, 24 more than in the previous year, according to the Zug law enforcement authorities. Four people died in road accidents in 2019. They were a motorcyclist (self-accident), a car driver (self-accident) and a passenger on a garden trash vehicle. In addition, a 92-year-old pedestrian was hit on a pedestrian lane while in the blind spot of a lorry. The number of seriously injured persons increased slightly compared to the previous year. Five people had life-threatening injuries, and 62 were seriously injured.

Of the 811 accidents in 2019, the majority (250) were skidding or self-induced accidents, followed by rear-end collisions (143) and parking accidents (174). Distraction at the wheel (most often by making calls or operating your smartphone) is still the most common cause of accidents. Stephan Rogger, Chief Traffic Police added: "In dense traffic, even the slightest inattention can end in an accident. Accidents regularly lead to massive traffic obstructions, especially in professional traffic."

Bicycle accidents increased by 28, to a total of 124. The increase in accidents with electric bicycles is particularly striking. In 2019, 14 people were injured, compared to 35 in 2019. "We find that, thanks to e-bikes, people who have not cycled for years are starting to cycle again. And, of course, many of these people lack the routine in road traffic," transport chief Stephan Rogger is quoted in the press release. "In order to avoid accidents, it is important to adapt your driving style to your skills. The attendance of a driving course also has a preventive effect."

The Zug police were called out to more traffic accidents in 2019.

Zug well below the crime average
The offences under the Criminal Code were 277 fewer than in the previous year. The number of life-and-limb offences has also fallen compared to the previous year – by 22 to 313 cases. The other offences covered, with the exception of dangerous offences, also show a decrease.

In 2019, 32.2 offences per thousand inhabitants took place in the canton of Zug in the StGB area. This is well below the Swiss average of 50.6 offences per thousand inhabitants. Burglary offences are on the decline. Burglary offences have fallen again compared to the previous year – by 6%. The 2019 crime statistics show a total of 286 burglaries. The decline continues the national trend of recent years. This positive development can also be attributed to prevention work, as well as the high police presence in the districts and the increased police checks on the main roads and near the motorway connections. Half of the burglaries took place in the private (147) and in the public sector (139).

Forty-two percent of the crimes against the Criminal Code were investigated by the Zug Police in the year under review. This rate is higher than the Swiss figure (39.2 %). Once again, the Zug police achieved a very high clarification rate of life-and-limb offences: 94 % of all cases were resolved. Across Switzerland, this figure is 87.3 %.

Once again, a number of sex offenders were identified and brought before the judicial authorities. The majority of the accused came from the family and acquaintances of the victims. The amount of confiscated data carriers again increased compared to the previous year; this was typically fault in the Terabyte range.

Prevention of recurring domestic violence incidents
Interventions in domestic violence cases are down slightly in 2019, falling from 439 to 404.

"From 1 April 2020, the personnel of the Domestic Violence Unit will nevertheless be increased. Due to a lack of resources from 2017 onwards, we have not been able to make any personal contact following a police intervention. This is now possible again” says Tom Nabholz, Chief Criminal Officer.
Despite the slight decrease in the number of cases, law enforcement agencies are working intensively on the phenomenon of domestic violence. "Together with the Public Prosecutor's Office, we want to take effective action against this. As a first step, we are aiming to prevent relapses," says Councillor Beat Villiger. The repeat offenders, who are responsible for many, and also serious cases, are known to the authorities and can be reached directly with measures. Villiger adds: "In this way, we will also identify gaps in the instruments against domestic violence and identify the need for action for follow-up projects." He adds: "In the current situation with the corona virus and the instructions to stay at home, there could be more attacks in people’s own homes."

Cybercrime continues to rise
The Zug Police recorded a further sharp increase in cybercrime in 2019, with cases increasing from 222 to 294 offences. In particular, as in recent years, these were cyber fraud, cyberbullying, data theft and corruption, and extortion. Through national and international networking, the cyber investigators of the Zug Police were not only able to clarify crimes within their own jurisdiction, but also to provide valuable information to other police corps. Furthermore, the Department of Cyber Investigation of the Zug Police was acknowledged by the Federal Office of Communications as a body for combating cybercrime - only the third police corps in Switzerland. Among other things, the Cyber Investigation Department is thus able to have domains blocked directly by the registry operators.

"Fraudsters are very flexible and constantly apply new types of fraud," warns Tom Nabholz, Chief Criminal Officer. This is also evident in the current corona crisis. "The criminals are trying to exploit the great insecurity and fears of the population for fraud purposes. For example, they offer medical products such as disinfectants, protective masks, fever knives or corona rapid tests in fake shops. Despite payment, the goods are never delivered." Despite increased investigative measures, a healthy distrust is still the best means of preventing crime.

The future will bring additional challenges for the Zug Police. "In addition to the crime situation, the biggest challenge from today's point of view is certainly digitisation. We have already implemented some projects, such as mobile deployment management, and we urgently need to address other projects. We must also be able to keep up with the technical achievements of society," says police commander Thomas Armbruster. The canton of Zug is growing – population, companies, vehicles and commuters are constantly increasing and are growing faster than the size of the police corps.

"In the canton of Zug, there is currently one policeman or woman for 536 inhabitants. The Swiss average, on the other hand, is one in 454”, reports safety director Beat Villiger. "In order to meet the requirements and growth, the Zug Police needs the corresponding human resources," continues Beat Villiger.

Due to the increasingly complex problems, the police corps increasingly need specialised police officers. Cybercrime, violence protection and threat management, as well as the terror issue, are just some of the issues that specializations that the police corps need today. "In this context, it’s important that these specialised police officers can trained without compromising basic police services. In other words, the comprehensive tasks can only be carried out without compromise if the police corps is given additional people," explains Commander Thomas Armbruster.

The start of the two-year basic training, originally planned in October 2019, has had to be postponed until April 2020 due to the Covid 19 situation. The five aspiring police officers are part of the first year that s receiving training according to the new overall education policy concept (BGK). The first training phase is completed at the Intercantonal Police School Hitzkirch (IPH).  The final is the Operational Capability Test (PEF). After passing the exam, the second training phase within the Corps will start at the beginning of March 2021.

World events are dominated by the coronavirus and the pace is also ben set, so to speak. The Zug police have also had to adapt their working methods quickly to the invisible enemy and, for example, set up containers in front of the main building in order to be able to optimally serve citizens, even in this situation: "The virus has already left its mark internally, as we have been forced to adapt our culture due to the hygiene guidelines. We no longer shake hands, we sit clearly apart if possible, and many of us work from the home office," says Commander Thomas Armbruster, describing the current situation: "We have gone a long way and have nevertheless moved closer together."