More than 800 crimes committed in Swiss asylum centres
One case of homicide and three cases of attempted homicide were recorded.
Keystone
The Federal Statistical Office (FSO) has reported that 813 criminal offences were committed in Swiss asylum centres in 2017. The number of sexual offences rose by 60% compared to the previous year.
The overall total of crimes committed was much lower than the all-time high of 1,413 cases recorded in 2012 after the Arab Spring, but much more than the years 2014 and 2015 (under 600 annual offences reported). The figures, initially revealed by the SonntagsZeitung paper on Sunday, were confirmed by the FSO on Monday.
Sexual assault cases increased significantly with 33 reported, compared to 20 the year before. Of these, eight were rapes and six were cases of child abuse.
One case of homicide and three cases of attempted homicide were recorded. A total of 80 cases of bodily harm, 79 threats of violence and 71 attacks on personnel were reported. Non-violent crimes include 70 thefts and 61 cases of property damage.
Offences committed in asylum centres account for a tiny proportion of all offences recorded in Switzerland. In 2016, this represented 0.2% of the total, the FSO said. Data from two Swiss cantons are missing from the statistics.
A total of 18,088 migrants filed for asylum in Switzerland in 2017, a decline of 33.5%. It is the lowest number of applications since 2010.
More
More
Deal seeks to integrate refugees in Swiss job market
This content was published on
The Swiss government has agreed to triple its financial contribution to help boost the integration of refugees into the labour market.
Train vs plane: would you take a direct train between London and Geneva?
Eurostar is planning to run direct trains from Britain to Germany and Switzerland from the early 2030s. Would you favour the train over the plane? If not, why not?
Ex-employee of Bank Pictet convicted of money laundering
This content was published on
The Geneva-based bank Pictet has been fined CHF2 million for shortcomings in its organisation which enabled a former asset manager to commit serious money laundering.
20 Minuten: last Swiss free daily to stop being printed
This content was published on
From the end of the year, there will no longer be a daily free newspaper in Switzerland: the TX Group is discontinuing the print version of "20 Minuten". Up to 80 full-time positions are to be cut in the editorial and publishing departments.
This content was published on
The Swiss population is in favour of compulsory military service and closer ties with NATO. These are the findings of the "Security 2025" study.
Irregular migration to Switzerland halves year-on-year
This content was published on
Irregular migration to Switzerland has decreased significantly. The figures from January to May show that only half as many illegal stays were recorded compared to the same period last year.
This content was published on
The United Nations High Commissioner for Refugees (UNHCR) is to cut around 3,500 jobs as a result of financial cuts linked in particular to US decisions. Hundreds of temporary contracts will also be cut, the UN agency said in Geneva on Monday.
Swiss government to help cantons in expelling rejected asylum-seekers
This content was published on
The federal government is to provide greater relief and support to the cantons when it comes to deporting people who are not entitled to asylum in Switzerland.
This content was published on
One in four people in Switzerland feels stressed often or almost always. Among the under-30s, the figure is as high as 40%.
This content was published on
The permafrost in the Swiss Alps is thawing faster and faster. The thawed top layers of permafrost have never been as thick as they were last year. This is shown by the latest data from the Swiss permafrost monitoring network Permos.
If you want to start a conversation about a topic raised in this article or want to report factual errors, email us at english@swissinfo.ch.
Read more
More
Deal seeks to integrate refugees in Swiss job market
This content was published on
The Swiss government has agreed to triple its financial contribution to help boost the integration of refugees into the labour market.
Switzerland could send back 3,200 rejected Eritrean asylum seekers
This content was published on
In August 2017, the Federal Administrative Court ruled that Eritrean nationals who had performed their compulsory military service in their country should not expect to be re-conscripted into the army or face criminal punishment when they return home. The court therefore considered that a return to Eritrea “cannot generally be considered as unenforceable”. Because the…
You can find an overview of ongoing debates with our journalists here . Please join us!
If you want to start a conversation about a topic raised in this article or want to report factual errors, email us at english@swissinfo.ch.