In March 2025, the SFSO published its national crime report for all 26 cantons. In 2024, Switzerland recorded a total of 563,633 offences under the Criminal Code, spread throughout the country, marking an overall increase of 7.9% on 2023. This increase is part of an upward trend observed over the last three years, mainly due to the boom in property offences and digital crime, which alone are up by 35%.
Focus on the cantons of Geneva, Vaud and Bern
In Geneva, the statistics show an encouraging long-term trend. Offences against life and limb have fallen by 26% since 2010. However, despite a downward trend in some data, some incidents are unfortunately on the rise, such as drug trafficking, robbery and repeated incivilities.
The canton of Vaud, on the other hand, presented a very different picture. In 2024, it recorded 72,762 offences, an increase of 16.7% on the previous year. Higher than the national average (7.9%), this statistic applies to both property-related offences and offences against physical integrity.
Crime levels in the Canton of Berne are fairly stable, but vary from region to region. The urban centers (Berne, Biel and Thun) account for the majority of crime, particularly property crime and public incivilities. In 2024, an upsurge in vandalism, shoplifting and digital identity fraud was reported in Bern. Rural areas remain relatively unscathed, but are experiencing an increase in targeted burglaries.
A nuanced reading of the figures
Although statistics can sometimes suggest an increase in crime, it is important to interpret them with caution. These data often reflect a complex reality, influenced by multiple factors such as improved reporting systems or the concentration of certain crimes in specific areas. It is therefore not a generalized phenomenon, nor an immediate threat to everyone. In this context, SIR SA remains at your disposal to answer any questions you may have, to support you in your prevention efforts, and to propose solutions tailored to your needs.
Read the full SPC 2024 report here: bfs.admin.ch
