Federal Criminal Police (FCP)
The FCP is the Confederation's investigating authority. Its area of responsibility
includes criminal and judicial police tasks that serve to identify, combat and prosecute
any offences committed. It is also responsible for ensuring cooperation between
domestic and foreign partners and in particular pursues technical developments in the
area of cybercrime. It ensures that technical and forensic expertise is maintained and
developed in this field. The FCP serves as judicial police if an incident occurs under
the jurisdiction of the Federal Administration. If the responsibility of the Confederation
or a canton has not yet been clarified, it can conduct preliminary investigations. It also
acts as coordinator for cases concerning several cantons.
Cybercrime Coordination Unit Switzerland (CYCO)
CYCO is a unit that is managed jointly by the Confederation and the cantons and is
responsible for detecting Internet offences in good time, preventing redundancies in
prosecution and analysing Internet crime 10. It is part of fedpol. It is the central contact
point for persons wishing to report suspicious Internet content. After a preliminary
check and data backup, the reports are passed on to the competent law enforcement
authorities in Switzerland and abroad. CYCO is at the disposal of the general public,
authorities and Internet service providers for criminal, legal and technical questions
relating to Internet crime. It also actively monitors the net for criminal content, e.g. in
the field of crimes against children and economic crime (credit card fraud, e-mail
phishing, etc.). Moreover, it is responsible for developing investigation techniques and
– with the support of the cantons and the federal authorities active in this area – for
gaining a nationwide overview of proceedings and monitoring the development of
legislation regarding Internet crime. It is also the contact point for foreign units with
similar duties. Together with MELANI, CYCO ensures the exchange of cyber-relevant
information between law enforcement authorities and the intelligence service.
International Police Cooperation (IPC)
Among other things, the IPC is responsible for contacts with national and international
partners that are cultivated via fedpol's Operations Centre. It is also responsible for
strategic and operational cooperation with international police units and organisations
(EUROPOL, INTERPOL, UN, OSCE, Council of Europe).
Operations Centre of the Federal Office of Police
The Operations Centre of the Federal Office of Police is the permanent contact point
for foreign authorities. Among other things, it supports national and international
criminal investigations in cases of computer crime. The contact point can take no
measures itself in the areas of legal advice, mutual assistance, collection of evidence,
data back-up or criminal investigation. However, as contact point, its mission is to
facilitate contact between the competent authorities in Switzerland (in particular
CYCO) and abroad.
Strategic Cooperation
10
Cf. the administrative agreement for a coordinated approach to combating Internet crime of 19 December
2001 and rules of procedure for the Cybercrime Coordination Unit Switzerland (CYCO) of 30 March 2011.
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