Security Winterthur police re-equipped for football and demonstrations

The Winterthur City Council has approved a loan of 1.22 million Swiss francs for new police equipment. This is particularly needed for football matches and demonstrations.

The city council announced on Friday that after 20 years of use, the current operational equipment for such security services no longer meets today's standards - neither in terms of safety nor comfort.

The new equipment, which the city ordered from two companies following a tender, includes flame-retardant pants and jackets as well as helmets with protective masks for irritant gas operations. It is intended to protect the emergency services from blows, stabs and cuts, while at the same time being flexibly adaptable to various operations.

According to the press release, the security service equipment is important: "The rise of FC Winterthur and the challenging political situation at home and abroad have increased the workload for the city police."

They have to ensure public safety and order at sporting events and demonstrations. "This exposes the frontline police officers to dangers." The new equipment, which is expected to be deployed this year, is designed to protect them from these dangers.