The future of police work:
Appointments and digital counters

Modern technologies are increasingly finding their way into our society and are also changing the way government services are provided. One notable example of this is the online police station, which enables citizens to submit their reports conveniently via video call. Reports on 20 Minutes and Police News show how successfully this innovation has already been implemented in Switzerland.

Advantages of digitalization in police stations

Digitalization offers many opportunities to make police services more efficient and citizen-friendly. With digital tools and technologies, police stations can optimize their processes and improve service for citizens. The most important benefits of digitalization in police stations are explained below:

Time savings and efficiency

Traditionally, filing a report with the police often requires long waiting times and appointments. By implementing digital solutions such as appointment scheduling software and video calls, these processes can be significantly accelerated. Citizens can make appointments from the comfort of their own home and present their concerns via video call. This saves time and reduces the administrative workload for the police.

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Increased accessibility

Digital counters increase the accessibility of the police. This is a significant improvement, especially for people in rural areas or with limited mobility. They no longer have to travel to a police station in person, but can raise their concerns online. This promotes inclusive and accessible policing.

Flexibility and adaptability

With digital appointments, police stations can respond more flexibly to the needs of citizens. Appointments can be offered outside of regular opening hours, which is particularly advantageous for working people. In addition, the police can plan and deploy their resources better, as making appointments enables a more even distribution of the workload.

Well-being and comfort

Another significant advantage of digital solutions is the increased well-being of citizens. Many people feel more comfortable and secure if they can deal with their concerns from home instead of having to visit a police station in person. This can be a great relief, especially for victims of crime or people who find themselves in unpleasant situations. The ability to make a report in a familiar environment helps to reduce stress and inhibitions for those affected and at the same time promotes faster and open communication with the police.

Best practice: The online police station in Switzerland

An outstanding example of the implementation of digital solutions in police work is the online police station in Switzerland. According to a report by 20 minutes citizens can submit their reports via video call. Also Polizeinews highlights the advantages of this digital service and shows how digitalization can improve the efficiency and citizen-friendliness of police work.

The online police station of the Zurich cantonal police

The Zurich cantonal police have launched their new online police station has taken an innovative step towards digitalization. Citizens can now submit reports conveniently from home via video call. Using this digital service is very simple: on the website of the cantonal police citizens can make an appointment for a video call and register directly online. During the video call, the report is recorded and processed immediately, which significantly speeds up the entire process.

In addition to filing reports, the online police station offers other services. These include advice on general police matters and the opportunity to report lost property. This digital platform is accessible around the clock. It enables the police to work more efficiently and reduce the workload at police stations. With this project, the Zurich Cantonal Police is demonstrating how modern technologies can revolutionize police work and improve the service provided to citizens.

Easy to use and highly accepted

Using the online police station is very simple. Citizens can register online, make an appointment and make a report via video call. This has led to a high level of acceptance and positive feedback. The ability to file reports from the comfort of their own home is perceived as a major advantage.

Improving police work

The introduction of the digital service has enabled the police to use their resources more efficiently and focus more on urgent operations. The option of filing reports via video call has also reduced the workload at police stations and shortened the processing time for reports.

Successful implementations of digital counters in public authorities

Numerous well-known authorities have already successfully implemented digital counters. The municipality of Regensdorf, for example, combines tradition and innovation through the use of digital solutions. The cantons of Basel-Stadt and Basel-Landschaft as well as the Zurich cantonal police and other departments of various offices also rely on the security and adaptability of modern technologies. These best practices show how digital counters are taking everyday life in public authorities to a new level and at the same time increasing the quality of service for citizens.

Examples and case studies

• Municipality of Regensdorf: Regensdorf combines tradition and innovation with Calenso
• Canton of Basel-Stadt: Basel-Stadt relies on Calenso's security and adaptability
• Canton of Basel-Landschaft: Basel-Landschaft uses digital solutions for more efficient processes

Advantages for authorities

• Increased efficiency: Digital counters reduce administrative work and enable faster processing of inquiries.
• Increased citizen satisfaction: Citizens can conveniently deal with their concerns online, which minimizes waiting times and the need for personal visits.
• Flexibility and accessibility: Public authorities can respond more flexibly to the needs of citizens and can be reached around the clock.

The successful implementation of digital counters in various authorities shows the potential of these technologies to make administration more efficient and citizen-friendly.

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The digital counter in the canton of Basel-Landschaft

The canton of Basel-Landschaft has taken an important step towards modern administration with the introduction of digital counters. Citizens can now deal with numerous matters online, which significantly improves the accessibility and service of the authorities.

At the canton, Calenso was used to digitize consultation appointments in three offices:

• Debt enforcement and bankruptcy office: seizure appointments are managed online. Those affected can reschedule their appointments themselves, which reduces the administrative workload.
• Cantonal Office for Industry, Trade and Labor (KIGA) and Office for Migration and Citizenship (AFMB): As part of the "Production of foreigner ID cards from 2019" project, appointments for photo and signature capture can be booked online.

The introduction of these solutions has increased efficiency and significantly improved the service for citizens. All of the canton's offices can now use this standardized service.

Conclusion

Digitization and the use of appointment scheduling software and digital counters in police stations offer considerable advantages for all involved. They lead to efficient and citizen-friendly police work that meets the requirements of modern society. The success of the online police station in Switzerland shows that these technologies can also be successfully implemented in other countries and regions.

This represents an important step into the future for police stations worldwide. The integration of digital solutions should therefore be driven forward in order to continuously improve police work and offer citizens a modern service.