Filing a criminal complaint in Switzerland

What is a criminal complaint?

How do I report a crime?

What happens after I have made a criminal complaint?

What happens in the case of serious offences?

Serious offences are automatically prosecuted by the authorities as soon as they become aware of them. This happens even if no criminal complaint has been made, for example, if someone has received life-threatening injuries (serious assault) or in cases involving sexual acts with children.

However, if you know that a serious offence has been committed, it is still important to file a criminal complaint to ensure that the authorities take action.

What happens in the case of minor offences?

Minor offences include public order offences or damaging property (vandalism) and simple assaults.

In order for criminal proceedings to be brought in the case of these offences, a criminal complaint must be filed within three months. You can only file a criminal complaint in respect of these offences if you have yourself been injured or harmed by the crime. If you lack legal capacity, your legal representative can file the complaint.

You can withdraw this criminal complaint at any time.

What happens in these criminal proceedings?

If you have filed a criminal complaint, you can ask the police or the public prosecutor's office whether criminal proceedings have been initiated and if so, how the proceedings are progressing.

The police investigate what happened and then refer the case to the public prosecutor.
The public prosecutor decides whether to initiate criminal proceedings and then prepares the case.
If the case goes to court, the public prosecutor files the charges. The accused may plead not guilty, which means the case goes to trial.
The judge listens, takes further evidence if necessary and then reaches a verdict.
If the accused is convicted, they can appeal against the decision. Anyone who faces criminal charges should seek legal advice.

Further information

File a complaint, yes or no? (feel-ok.ch) Information for young adults (only available in German)
Expert office mobbing and harassment (fachstelle-mobbing.ch)
What to do in stalking cases | Swiss Crime Prevention (skppsc.ch) (not in English)
Please get involved! | Swiss Crime Prevention (skppsc.ch) What you can do in an emergency (not in English)
Whistleblower Reporting Office (Swiss Federal Audit Office)

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Reporting a crime

What happens in the case of serious offences?

What happens in the case of minor offences?

Further information