Swiss police retain skin color in searches but drop outdated terms

Swiss police will keep skin color as a search option in their national database. The decision comes after a review of how cantons record suspect descriptions. Some controversial terms, however, will now be removed to address discrimination concerns.

Before September 2023, Swiss cantons handled skin color documentation differently. Zurich, Bern, and Geneva had already banned or limited its use between 2017 and 2021. Meanwhile, Vaud, Valais, and parts of German-speaking Switzerland continued describing suspects with terms like hell (light), dunkel (dark), or dunkelbraun (dark brown).

A federal consultation with cantonal police forces led to the latest decision. While Ripol, the national police database, will still allow skin color searches, outdated and problematic labels such as 'yellow' or 'red' will be scrapped. The system will also update how regional origin is recorded, ensuring the categories better match policing needs.

Most cantons supported keeping skin color as an optional search criterion. The changes aim to balance operational efficiency with concerns over discrimination.

The updated Ripol system will now use modernised terms for skin color and regional origin. Cantonal police retain the choice to include skin color in searches, though the federal government has removed the most disputed descriptors. The adjustments follow years of inconsistent practices across Switzerland's regions.