The officers of the municipal police force (MPF) guarantee local safety by means of a regular and highly-visible presence in the City of Geneva, both day and night. The members of the municipal police force thus contribute to maintaining peace and order in the City of Geneva.

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Due to the end of the year celebrations, the counters of the municipal police stations are closed from 24 December to 2 January 2023

The municipal police call center remains at your disposal on the following number: 022 418 22 22 from Sunday to Wednesday from 6p.m. to midnight and from Thursday to Saturday from 6 a.m. to 3 a.m.

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To obtain the intervention of a municipal police patrol, dial 022 418 22 22

Missions of the municipal police

The main mission of the municipal police involves detecting incivilities and resolving them before an issue escalates, thereby focussing on prevention without for all that forgetting the mission of repression if this should prove necessary. Depending on the type of offence, the municipal police apply different fines or penalties.

In recent years, the number of municipal police officers has grown considerably, reaching a total of 200 officers on 1 January 2015, shared between the eight community stations covering the territory of the City of Geneva.

Community policing and prevention

The men and women of the municipal police force have an excellent knowledge of the districts, thanks to very regular meetings with the inhabitants, shopkeepers, members of associations, school head teachers, etc.

By prioritising patrols on foot or by bike, they encourage dialogue with the population.

Local safety contract (LSC)

The aim of the local safety contract is to define the main focuses of collaboration between the cantonal police and the municipal police within the municipal territory.

  • Fighting delinquency in the street and incivilities

    The municipal police play a key role in terms of local safety. Through their active presence, the officers succeed in dissuading certain people from committing certain crimes. They contribute to preventing and combating delinquency in the street and incivilities, in particular linked to the possession and/or consumption of drugs in public areas. They are also authorised to apprehend the authors of certain types of offence caught in the act, such as pickpockets.

    Since 2013, the officers of the municipal police can make arrests and conduct searches in legal matters.

    The municipal police also intervene to prevent cases of public squalor by making users of this space aware of their responsibilities.

    • Fighting serious offences against the road traffic act (RTA)
      The officers of the municipal police (APM) take action every day with regard to serious offences against the road traffic act which could be dangerous within the districts, and in particular near schools (speeding, drunk driving), by being present and visible in these areas.
    • Fight against noise pollution
      The municipal police combat noise pollution, regardless of whether this involves neighbourhood noise between private individuals or noise pollution suffered by those people living near a public establishment. They maintain close relationships with shopkeepers and cooperate with social workers, in particular in the event of unauthorised gatherings of young people.

      To guarantee a police presence when noise pollution is at its greatest and to ensure respect for public peace and tranquillity, the municipal police officers work hours extending through to 3 a.m. on Thursdays, Fridays and Saturdays.

Protecting young people

To create contacts with young people in the districts, the officers of the municipal police force participate in local actions and maintain regular relations with local figures (inhabitants, associations, community centres, schools). In collaboration with the Abri group, for example, comprising different local partners, they organise free fun and sports activities for the young people of the Europe and les Charmilles districts during the school holidays.

With the aim of developing links between the officers of the municipal police and young people, awareness classes have been developed with a view to tackling the issues of respect (for people, equipment, their peers) and prevention, primarily with regard to the dangers linked to using social networks. In particular, they learn – much to their surprise – that they are criminally responsible from the age of 10. Every year, all 7th classes at primary school benefit from an information session lasting approximately 1 hour.

Safety and public health

During severe hot and cold spells, the municipal police officers participate in implementing action plans designed to aid people who are, or could be, in distress.

During the “severe cold” plan deployed by the City of Geneva to increase the capacity of emergency housing mechanisms to take people in due to the polar temperatures, the municipal police officers do their rounds close to the civic protection housing centres 7 days a week, both mornings and evenings, to guarantee safety in public areas.

During their patrols, they reach out to the homeless people they encounter to encourage them to visit these shelters while at the same time informing the social services.

During a “heatwave” alert, the local social centres contact registered people in order to check their well-being. Family and neighbours are called on if no answer is received. In the absence of any contact, the local social centres contact the municipal police, who call at the home of the person in question.

Major gatherings

By guaranteeing safety during large-scale events such as demonstrations, marches or processions, the municipal police officers help ensure that these events run smoothly.

Managing the formalities and rules applicable to dog owners

Dog owners can contact the municipal police to discover what their responsibilities are with regard to the pet, and in particular to acquire a control mark, which became mandatory on 1 April 2013.

Une ville plus sûre avec la police municipale

Article modifié le 05.01.2024 à 08:52