Swiss parliament backs doubling police custody to 48 hours

Switzerland’s parliament has agreed in principle to let police hold suspects for up to 48 hours, twice the current limit, SRF reported. The proposal follows a violent pro-Palestinian demonstration in Bern last year in which demonstrators attacked police and 18 officers were injured.

Police currently have 24 hours to release a suspect or hand them over to prosecutors. Max Hoffmann, secretary general of the Swiss Police Officers’ Association, said the extra time would allow officers to review the circumstances and establish what each person may have done, particularly after demonstrations involving many arrests.

The change could leave prosecutors and courts with less time to act. A court must approve continued detention within 96 hours, according to the European Court of Human Rights. Alicia Giraudel, a lawyer at human rights organisation Amnesty International Switzerland, said the shortened timeframe could make it harder to respect suspects’ procedural rights and hold a detention review. The Federal Council has also identified difficulties with the proposal.

Hoffmann argued that a thorough police file could help prosecutors complete their work faster. He also said a longer period in custody could deter violence at future demonstrations. Giraudel countered that police custody is not a punishment and that suspects are presumed innocent until convicted. The Federal Council must now propose how to implement the change while meeting human rights requirements.