Aargau launches police video calls as demand grows

Aargau has launched a six-month pilot allowing residents to report crimes to police by video call, joining the cantons of Zurich and Basel-Stadt, where the service is already in use. Demand is high, SRF reports.

The Aargau service began on October 1. Residents can book an online appointment instead of going to a police station. Nine officers work part-time on the service from a government building in Aarau.

Video calls can be used to report most incidents, report lost identity documents or seek advice on police matters. They cannot be used for emergencies or incidents requiring officers to attend in person, such as burglaries. The Aargau pilot is limited to incidents that happened in the canton, and callers must live there.

Appointments are available Monday to Friday until 9 p.m. and on weekends from 9 a.m. to 4 p.m. The service is intended to improve access to police outside existing opening hours and reduce waiting at counters. It complements the Suisse ePolice portal, which lets users in several cantons report simple thefts and property damage online.

Zurich introduced its online police station in summer 2024 and made it a permanent service in July 2025 after a successful pilot. Basel-Stadt expanded its digital service in March 2026. The canton has handled more than 2,600 video calls since the service began and plans to maintain and expand it. Both cantonal police forces say the service is well used and helps ease pressure on traditional police stations.

Aargau does not record its video calls, which take place through Microsoft Teams. In Basel-Stadt, documents can be submitted digitally using encryption.