Police checks

Police checks can make you feel uncomfortable or intimidated. Maybe you think you’ve done something wrong. But often, this isn’t the case. You’re afraid of being fined or punished. A lot of people feel the same.

You’ll feel more confident if you know your rights, and if you know what the police are actually tasked to do. And it’ll be easier to decide how to behave.

IMPORTANT: Real police officers always work in pairs.

• Who carries out checks on sex workers and businesses in the canton of Bern?
• Do you work as an escort or ‘privately’?
• Do you work at a well-known address?
• What do I have to do during an identity check?
• What happens during a search of your place of work or your apartment?
• Are the police allowed to search or take away my phone?
• When do the police take money or objects from me?
• When do I have to go to the police station for questioning?
• How do I find out if the police have a file about me?
• Can the police demand money from me straight away for a fine or penalty?
• What should I do if I’m under criminal investigation?