Switzerland

Independent mediation body between the public and the police

Organisation

Existing since the year 2016 in connection with the adoption of the new Geneva Police Act in Article 62, the Independent mediation body between the population and the police (MIPP), formerly the Police Mediation’s office, is an independent structure dedicated to dialogue, information and advice towards the population, the cantonal police and the municipal police forces.
The MIPP provides professionals mediators  in order to hear grievances and to accompany applicants towards building a non-judicial solution that is acceptable to all parties.

Nathalie Le Thanh, main Mediator
Me Zoé Seiler, Mediator Assistant
François Suter, Mediator Assistant
.
Read the activity report from 2021 here.

Missions

The Independent mediation body between the public and the police provides a service to citizens, members of the police and members of city polices. It offers extrajudiciary resolutions to conflicts between citizens and police members. When necessary, it engages mediation and, with people’s agreement, it can organize mediation meetings. It also provides documentations on the different situations that are submitted.
.
Moreover, the Independent mediation body between the public and the police is in charge of ensuring a better understanding of the police activities. To do so, different possibilities exist for the office :
• explain the law that applies to the cases submitted;
• obtain information from the police in order to explain the situations in the cases submitted;
• give the opportunity for the complainant to meet the other parties and explain him/herself within the mediation;
• organize information sessions between the police and different specific publics (youth, organizations representing populations having problems in their relationship with the police…).
.
Finally, the Independent mediation body between the public and the police presents its activites and missions during police officers training, in order to let them know of this mode of resolution of conflicts that will be at their disposal once they will start their activities as police members.

Contact

Rue Henri-Fazy 2
1204 Genève (4th floor)
Email : mediation-population-police@etat.ge.ch
Website : https://mipp.ge.ch/
Electronic for complaints : https://mipp.ge.ch/