The Security Police (Sicherheitspolizei or Sipo) prosecutes normal law enforcement and order maintenance within Schwerdt. Having nationwide jurisdiction, the Sipo are organised into districts along state (Länd) and county (Kreis) boundaries.
Proactive crime prevention and reactive crime intervenion serve to protect the lives and welfare of ordinary citizens. Services supporting this role include criminal and forensic investigations.
Specialised sections protect the transport infrastructure and enforce maritime and other transport laws. The Sipo also have charge of protecting government facilities and key personnel.
Order Maintenance
A key role of the Sipo is attending to the maintenance of public security and order. This includes, in particular, the combatting of crime and the clearing-up of crime.
In Schwerdt, the police use patrols to deter and detect criminal activities. In a community-oriented approach, foot and bicycle patrols augment traditional vehicle and horse-mounted methods. Video and air technologies also support this function.
Transport Safety
Roadway safety, including enforcement of traffic laws, has a direct effect on the quality of citizens' lives. From assisting children at road crossings to investigating vehicle accidents, the Sipo are engaged in this task.
The protection and security of the railways, waterways, and airways is critical to the safety of the citizenry and the quality of the economy.
Crime Prevention
The police are able to assist citizens with a variety of programs to prevent crime. These include neighborhood watch, alcohol and drug abuse prevention, safety for seniors, and youth programs, to name a few.
Special programs exist to combat fraud, computer crime, vehicle theft, and extremist groups. Citizen awareness and knowledge provide the best means to curtail criminal activities.
Specialised Capabilities
Besides the normal tools available to the police, the Sipo maintains the ability to use canines for search and rescue operations. There are dogs that can detect illegal drugs, explosives and weapons, and track fleeing criminals, among other roles.
The Sipo also have helicopters available for routine patrols and to assist with particular activities. Such mobility and support enables the police to very quickly contain criminal efforts.
