Aargau parliament scuppers government plans for a unified police force
Published: Tuesday, Mar 19th 2024, 17:10
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In the canton of Aargau, the cantonal police and the 15 regional police forces will be retained. The Grand Council rejected the Government Council's proposal for a change to a single police force by 74 votes to 61. This is a defeat for the cantonal government.
The decision was preceded by an extensive debate on Tuesday. The preliminary committee approved the government council's proposal for a unified police force.
Opinion in parliament was not only divided along party lines, but there were supporters and opponents of the system change in all parliamentary groups. Numerous municipal representatives spoke out in favor of the dual system.
The opponents - mainly the center and parts of the FDP - emphasized that the regional police forces of different sizes were anchored in their areas. The system works well and there is no need to turn everything upside down, they said.
The supporters pointed out the future challenges facing the police. Coordination would be easier with a unified police force. The SVP and SP were overwhelmingly in favor of the system change. However, both parliamentary groups also voted against.
Change of mind by the government council
Government Councillor and Police Director Dieter Egli (SP) said that it was not a question of dismantling local security. However, security tasks are becoming more and more intertwined. Strategic management must come from a single source.
In November 2022, the Government Council voted in favor of the previous system. Less than a year later, it proposed a change. According to the Government Council, the dual system is "no longer the right form of organization in the medium to long term".
In May 2006, the people clearly approved the Police Act. It introduced a division of responsibilities between the canton and the municipalities: Since then, the municipalities themselves have been responsible for peace, order and security at local level. The municipalities joined forces and set up regional police forces.
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