Summary

Switzerland recorded a total of 554,963 criminal offences under the Criminal Code in 2025 – a decline of 1.5% compared to the previous year. While property crimes fell significantly, serious violent crimes increased by 8.1%. Particularly concerning: Over 60% of homicides occur in domestic settings.

Persons

Topics

  • Swiss crime statistics
  • Violent crime
  • Property crimes
  • Domestic violence

Clarus Lead

The 2025 police crime statistics present a mixed picture: while overall crime declined slightly, the situation with violent offences deteriorated significantly. The increase in serious violent crimes by over 8% signals an alarming trend that calls upon security policymakers and law enforcement authorities to take action. Particularly critical: the high rate of domestic homicides points to protective gaps.

Detailed Summary

The Federal Statistical Office recorded a total of 554,963 criminal offences under the Criminal Code in 2025. The decline of 1.5% is primarily driven by decreasing property crimes (−3.5%) – a positive signal for property protection. This development could indicate improved prevention measures or changing crime patterns.

In contrast, there is an alarming increase in serious violent crimes: +8.1% compared to 2024. Of 55 completed homicides, 61.8% occurred in a domestic context. This rate underscores the need for strengthened interventions in cases of Domestic Violence and better early detection of risk situations.

Key Findings

  • Overall crime slightly declining (−1.5%), primarily due to fewer property crimes
  • Serious violent crimes increasing (+8.1%) – an alarming counter-trend
  • Domestic homicides dominate (61.8%) – protective gaps in the private sphere evident

Critical Questions

  1. Data Quality: How complete is the recording of violent crimes, particularly in domestic settings? Are dark figures taken into account?

  2. Causality: What factors explain the increase in serious violent crimes despite declining overall crime? Are these displacement effects or new phenomena?

  3. Conflicts of Interest: What political or institutional incentives could influence the prioritization of certain offences over others?

  4. Feasibility: What concrete measures follow from these findings? Are resources available for domestic violence prevention?

  5. Counter-Hypotheses: Could the decline in property crimes be attributed to reporting behaviour (rather than an actual decline)?

  6. Validity of Categorization: How are borderline cases between "serious" and "minor" violence classified? Are standards stable?

Source Directory

Primary Source: Around three times more thefts than digital crimes in police crime statistics – https://www.news.admin.ch/de/newnsb/Lt4dQR54SMqZFh_vCX8oA

Verification Status: ✓ 23 March 2026

This text was created with the support of an AI model. Editorial Responsibility: clarus.news | Fact-Check: 23 March 2026