Zurich Zurich cantonal police harmonize road safety lessons

The Zurich cantonal police are cutting some of their road safety lessons in schools to save money, according to a letter sent to schools. The SP therefore submitted a request to the cantonal government - but is likely to withdraw it.

The "tried and tested basic offer" will remain in place, according to a letter from the cantonal police to schools. However, savings would have to be made on the additional services. Various schools asked what this meant.

However, this letter is already outdated, as Security Director Mario Fehr (non-party) told Keystone-SDA on Wednesday afternoon. The cantonal police sent out a second letter, which only mentions "harmonization of prevention activities".

If necessary, also at vocational schools

According to the first letter, refresher lessons in kindergarten, pedestrian training in the first grade, instructional trips for school routes and lessons at vocational and technical schools were to be canceled. Apprentices would no longer receive instruction from police officers on the consequences of drink and drug driving during their training.

The new letter says nothing more about this. It now states, for example, that prevention work on road safety and crime prevention will also be carried out at vocational schools if required and by mutual agreement.

The aim of the harmonized teaching offer is to convey current traffic and criminal police topics in an age- and level-appropriate manner. According to the letter, "valuable teaching time" can be better utilized, duplication of effort can be avoided and the needs of pupils can be better met.

Security director changes the mind of the cantonal council

The reduction in prevention work announced in the first letter alarmed the SP. In a question, it wanted to know from the cantonal government how it assessed the reduction and what the consequences would be for children and young people. The request was published on Wednesday.

The new letter has at least changed the political process: following the intervention of the Director of Security, the first signatory, Christoph Fischbach (SP, Kloten), expressed his willingness to withdraw the request next Monday.

The cantonal police would not comment on Wednesday morning when asked by Keystone-SDA. The police will not comment on this issue until the political process has been completed.