Luganoremains the safest city in Switzerland and has the lowest number of crimes recorded.In Ticino's main city, 24.7 crimes were recorded per 1,000 inhabitants in 2021(+1.3 percent compared to 2020) versus 36.3 in St. Gallen and 36.8 inWinterthur. Other Swiss cities fall behind. For example, Lucerne, rankedfourth, registering 50 crimes per 1,000 inhabitants. Lausanne 54, Zurich 56,Geneva 64, Biel 79, Basel and Bern 76.
A record,that Lugano, displayed proudly during a meeting with the press organized tounveil the 2021 activity by City Police Commander Roberto Torrente and SecurityDepartment Head Karin Valenzano Rossi. A press meeting that incidentally took placea few hours following the stabbing in Dante Square.
Domestic Violence
Lugano alsoexcels throughout Switzerland when considering the number of traffic accidents.There are 15.4 per 10,000 inhabitants as compared, for example, with 27.3 in Zurichand 29.6 in Lausanne. And there has been a steady drop in robberies in the cityfor several years, which have virtually halved in a decade." However, oneslightly worrying figure," stressed Valenzano Rossi, "concerns thenumber of crimes that can be attributed to domestic violence. Police have had tointervene 47 times on their own authority during the year (+74 percent)."Therehad been 27 cases in 2020 and 43 in 2019. "An increase, that can be seenin all Swiss towns”. Across the Canton of Lugano, there were 96 cases ofdomestic violence in 2021 (68 in 2020), whereas in Ticino the figure amountedto 209.
Drink Driving
Policenoted an increase in driving offenses (2,397 compared to 1,609 in 2020 and1,959 in 2019). And the same applied to alcohol checks. Last year 317 people werecaught driving above 0.4. In 2020 there were 202 (but the year was also markedby a lockdown period) and 263 in 2019. Significant growth.
Youth andprevention
The policecontinue to keep an eye on behaviour of adolescents. Several incidents haveemerged throughout the pandemic that have been widely reported in the press:gatherings, brawls, and assaults.
"Theyouth, however, are healthy," said Valenzano Rossi. There is a hint ofanticipation. The City in the upcoming weeks would like to promote a preventionand awareness project. "We have noticed," the head of the departmentexplained, "that a part of adults, post-pandemic, are no longer adapted tonoise and having a lively city. We would like to address them by asking for alittle understanding. But then we would also like to appeal to young people byasking them to respect the needs of those who would like quieter streets."
Videosurveillance
ChiefTorrente then reviewed the video surveillance systems installed throughout thecity, which were increasingly being used by the prosecuting authority. Therewere 488 (100 more than in 2020) inquiries carried out thanks to the imagescaptured by the cameras placed downtown. A security tool that has become evenmore useful to the Public Ministry since, specifically at the request of thePublic Prosecutor's Office, the City has raised the number of days of retentionof footage to 100.
"No tosingle police."
ValenzanoRossi then repeated the scepticism (see CdT of 11/5) of the PolCom and of theother Lugano structured police forces about the idea of a unique policing inTicino. The Town hall, however, reaffirmed the need for reforms.
