The police in yellow vest are easily recognizable

An agreement between the cantonal police of Geneva and the transport police was signed on Tuesday. It will notably strengthen the system on the Caravan Vaux route.

With their neon yellow vests, transport police officers (TPO) are easily recognizable. Deployed in railway stations, trains and, for five years, in public transport in Geneva, they will see their missions be reinforced from 1 July. A convention linking the TPO and the cantonal police of Geneva was indeed signed Tuesday on a platform of the station Caravan. What better to prepare including the opening of the future rail link.

Reinforced missions

In French-speaking Switzerland, such an agreement already exists with the cantons of Vaud and Neuchâtel. "But signing an agreement with Geneva was very important for us," said Colonel Jug Monarch, commander of the transport police. Specifically, his men (about fifty in the Lake Geneva region) will be able to handle the cases of violation of the rules of the traffic, violation of the Law on the weapons or detention and consumption of narcotics without needing to appeal to the Geneva police officers. Recall that these agents, holders of the federal police license, are armed, unlike municipal police officers in reflective vest.

The example of the final of the Cup

"Our collaboration on the ground with the transport police is not new, but the convention adds an institutional framework, says Monica Bouffant, head of the Geneva police. The benefits came at the recent final of the Swiss Football Cup. The transport police were present with us at the command post and their field agents provided us with essential information about what was happening inside and outside the trains. "

"Better working together"

"For once, we anticipate! With the opening in 2019 of the CEVA, the number and importance of the stations will increase. And we know, to have seen for example with the arrival of the tram Merino, a new line can also be a crime accelerator. It is therefore better to work together." The magistrate also said that discussions are ongoing with French neighbors concerning the interventions of various security actors and safety equipments - which also include customs and border guards - in the perimeter of the CEVA.