• Aargau takes drastic measures against criminal asylum-seekers

EuropeNews 20 Juli 2012
Original: Aargau greift gegen kriminelle Asylbewerber durch, Berner Zeitung
Translation by Nicolai Sennels

With more police stop-and-search operations and special prosecutors, the Aargau cantonal council will take action against criminal asylum-seekers. The collaboration of the canton authorities will be strengthened.

The goal is to "improve the security situation", senior cantonal councillor Urs Hofmann (Social Democrats) said in front of the media on Thursday in Aarau. The community members and local authorities were irritated.

There was the impression that asylum-seekers and criminal tourists are doing whatever they want without regard for authorities, the director of the Department for Economics and Interior pointed out. However, the fight against crime in Aargau was already intensified in 2011.

Number of offenses increases

The number of burglaries and thefts increased this year by about 30 percent compared to 2011. The number of car break-ins rose by 150 percent.

The majority of offenders are asylum-seekers from North Africa and organized gangs of criminal tourists, as reported to the media. In addition, there were growing security problems in refugee centers. In October the people will elect a new executive council and cantonal parliament.

Convictions made faster

Considering all this, the police will increase their public presence. Identity checks will be carried out more often in so called "Hot Spots" like main railway stations and refugee centers.

At the same time, special prosecutors will ensure that offenders are caught and prosecuted quickly. The flow of information between police, judicial authorities and social services will be strengthened.

The goal is to collect information on repeat offenders. There is enough space to commit offenders. The cantonal council also launched "Crime Stop", a task force which ensures the implementation of the decided measures.

Claims to the federal government

The 50 asylum accommodations established by the canton are overcrowded, claims Ms. Susanne Landammann Hochuli (Green Party). This year the federal government is expected to send up to 2000 asylum seekers to Aargau. The search for accommodations is difficult.

The canton is therefore central to the planning for larger and more centralized accomodations. The head of the Department of Health and Social Services demanded that the federal government not allocate asylum seekers to the cantons when cantons do not first have the possibility to give them the right to stay. The procedure would have to be accelerated.