Switzerland: Zurich City Police Lifts Age Limit in Response to Staff Shortage

The Zurich City Police announced on Thursday that they are eliminating the age limit for police applicants. Until now, aspiring officers had to be under 39 years old to be eligible for the force. The decision comes as a response to a shortage of staff and a declining number of applications in recent years.

Pascal Siegenthaler, the media spokesman for the Zurich City Police, stated that individuals can now theoretically apply to join the police force until they reach retirement age. The removal of the age limit brings the Zurich City Police in line with the Zurich cantonal police, as both forces share a common police school.

While the age criterion has been scrapped, the other prerequisites for prospective officers remain largely unchanged. Applicants are still required to undergo a diagnostic aptitude test, assessing cognitive abilities and memory, along with a sports test. Siegenthaler emphasized, "There are certainly people who meet these requirements even if they are over 39 years old."

Previously, applicants were also obliged to have attended a Swiss elementary school and speak fluent Swiss German. However, these specific requirements have now been relaxed. Siegenthaler clarified, "All other requirements remain the same."

The decision to lift the age limit is a direct response to the shortage of skilled workers in the police force. Siegenthaler noted, "We hope this will attract more applicants." Despite being able to fill police classes in the past, a noticeable decline in the number of applications has been observed in recent years.

The move is expected to diversify the pool of potential candidates and address the growing need for qualified personnel in the Zurich City Police.