Federal Court: Lucerne police degraded elderly woman during strip search
Switzerland's highest court has awarded compensation to a 65-year-old woman after police officers completely undressed her during an arrest.
Federal Court: Lucerne police degraded elderly woman during strip search
Switzerland's top judges have awarded a woman financial compensation because officers in Lucerne treated her degradingly during her arrest in 2020. The woman, who was of retirement age at the time, receives 1,000 francs. This emerges from a decision published on Friday, as reported by Watson.
In May 2020, the 65-year-old was near Lucerne railway station, where an unauthorised gathering was taking place. When officers wanted to check her, she resisted. The police subsequently took her into custody. On the way to the station, she bit one officer on the forearm.
At the police station, two female officers ordered the arrested woman to be completely undressed for a search. One side of the body remained covered at all times; the intimate area was not touched.
The judges in Lausanne assessed this measure as disproportionate and degrading. There had been no indication that the woman was carrying weapons or dangerous objects that could not have been detected by physical patting down.
The court also criticised the detention lasting over 20 hours. The interrogation did not take place until the following day. Given the minor severity of the allegations, the woman should have been released and summoned to appear at a later date, the court reasoned.
The Lucerne cantonal court had previously rejected the demand for 1,800 francs. The Federal Court partially overturned this and awarded the woman a lower amount.
Investigations were initiated against the police officers involved, but all of these were discontinued. In return, the complainant was convicted by penal order in 2023 for obstruction of officials and making threatening conduct against officers.
Source: Google News CH — Crime (de)