Security and Crime in Geneva: Understanding the 2024 Statistics to Better Interpret 2025

Although we are now in 2026, revisiting the official 2024 crime statistics remains fully relevant. These figures represent the most recent consolidated dataset allowing for a comprehensive and reliable analysis of the security situation in the canton. Statistics for 2025 are expected to be published soon, but the 2024 data already provide valuable insights—provided they are interpreted with method and perspective.

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In 2024, security remains a central concern in Geneva. Official figures show an 8% increase in crime, with 52,146 offenses recorded, compared to 48,084 in 2023. This is a real increase, but one that aligns with a trend observed at the national level, rather than reflecting a Geneva-specific anomaly.

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However, these figures conceal a more nuanced reality. While recorded offenses have increased, the sense of insecurity among residents of the canton has declined. This apparent paradox deserves explanation beyond raw statistics.

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We therefore took the time to analyze the official data to better understand what they reveal—and what they do not always show. While the overall increase is undeniable, not all offenses have the same impact on the population. Certain forms of crime, particularly those that are more targeted or more violent, concentrate public concern and shape perceptions of risk.

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Finally, this analysis would be incomplete without examining the responses implemented on the ground. The cantonal police, local authorities, and citizens each play a complementary role in prevention and in addressing these issues. Understanding this dynamic allows for a more accurate reading of the current security situation in Geneva—far removed from shortcuts or alarmist narratives.

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The 2024 figures: an increase, yes… but in line with the Swiss trend

In 2024, offenses under the Swiss Criminal Code increased by 8% in Geneva. At first glance, this figure may raise concerns. However, it takes on a very different meaning when placed in context: Switzerland recorded the exact same 8% increase over the same period.

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In other words, Geneva is not an exception. The canton is strictly following the national trend. This point is essential to understanding the real significance of these statistics. Geneva is a dense, urban, and international area, with significant population flows and economic activity. Historically, such contexts tend to generate higher crime levels than the Swiss average. The fact that Geneva’s evolution mirrors that of the country as a whole therefore calls for perspective rather than alarmism.

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That said, these figures must be approached with discernment. A statistical increase does not automatically mean a sudden deterioration in security. After several years of continuous decline, an uptick was not only possible but, to some extent, expected.

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It is also important to recall what crime statistics actually measure. They reflect several realities at the same time:

• crime effectively recorded on the ground,
• police activity and the operational priorities at a given moment,
• the proactive work carried out by law enforcement.

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Certain offenses only appear in the statistics when the police act in a targeted or proactive manner. Conversely, without specific action, some phenomena may remain partially invisible. Crime statistics are therefore, above all, indicators—decision-support tools used to adapt policing responses. They are neither a definitive verdict nor an exhaustive snapshot of the reality experienced by residents.

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Before any emotional or political interpretation, it is essential to understand what the figures do—and do not—say. While they help identify objective trends, they do not, on their own, explain how the population perceives security in everyday life. It is precisely this apparent gap between statistical data and public perception that we will examine in the remainder of this analysis.

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Why the Feeling of Insecurity Does Not Always Match Crime Statistics

In Geneva, a gap persists between official crime statistics and how the population experiences safety on a daily basis. Residents do not move around at night with statistical tables in mind, but with their personal experiences, their fears, and their perception of the environment around them.

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Since 2004, the canton has measured this perception through the local security assessment. The definition is clear: it refers to feeling unsafe in public spaces after 10:00 p.m. In 2023, this feeling reached a level comparable to that observed in 2007, even though the security and social context has changed profoundly since then.

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This perception is not determined solely by so-called “actual” crime. It is influenced by a combination of often very concrete factors:

• media coverage and the circulation of videos on social networks,
• public lighting and the design of urban spaces,
• the perceived presence of groups considered disruptive,
• visible incivilities in public spaces,
• social cohesion and neighborhood life.

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Numerous studies confirm this: the feeling of insecurity does not always correspond to objectively measurable risks. It is based above all on what people see, hear, and experience in their daily lives.

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Marked differences also appear across groups. Nearly 40% of women report not feeling safe when alone at night. More than one in three women say they have experienced street harassment over the past five years—a phenomenon that is even more pronounced among those aged 15–24.

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At the same time, avoidance strategies—such as giving up going out or steering clear of certain areas—are less common today than they were in 2010. This suggests that, despite expressed concerns, many residents continue to occupy public spaces and do not systematically withdraw.

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The feeling of insecurity (as opposed to a feeling of safety) therefore remains a reality that must be taken seriously. Even when it does not strictly mirror crime statistics, it is a key indicator of well-being and quality of life in public spaces.

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What Truly Raises Concern: Targeted Violence and New Modus Operandi

What is causing concern in Geneva today is not only the evolution of the figures, but above all the nature of the violence observed on the ground.

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Between 2023 and 2024, serious violent offenses increased by 19.4%. This figure may appear alarming at first glance, but it needs to be put into context. The year 2023 recorded an unusually low level. In reality, the 2024 data brings the situation back to levels comparable to those observed in 2019 and 2020.

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The unease felt by the population is therefore less about a quantitative surge than about a qualitative shift in criminal activity. Robberies, carjackings, and home invasions represent a clear break in criminal modus operandi.

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Homejacking is undoubtedly the most striking example. Unlike a traditional burglary, the intrusion occurs while the occupants are present. The violence is direct and confrontational, often used to force victims to hand over valuables or car keys. This type of assault does not only affect material possessions; it leaves deep and lasting psychological scars.

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Another striking aspect is that some acts of violence are committed for trivial amounts. This imbalance between the brutality of the act and the minimal gain sought deepens incomprehension and fuels the feeling of insecurity.

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These new criminal modus operandi also rely on increased use of social media. Perpetrators, often young, are recruited through platforms such as Snapchat. Some offenses are filmed and then shared or circulated online. Victims are thus subjected to a double punishment: the assault itself, followed by digital exposure.

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The most notable developments observed in 2024 are as follows:

• home intrusions involving direct confrontation,
• use of violence for very limited financial gain,
• recruitment via social media platforms,
• offenses filmed and shared online,
• the pursuit of notoriety as a driving force behind certain crimes.

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In this context, violence sometimes tends to become a commonplace tool, disconnected from the actual material stakes. At the same time, cybercrime increased by 35% in 2024, illustrating the rise of scams and digital offenses that add to physical violence.

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These shifts now raise questions about the role of digital platforms in the spread—and even the normalization—of violent behavior, particularly among younger individuals.

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Preventing and protecting: municipalities, police, and practical tools

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Security cannot be reduced to statistics or law enforcement alone. It is built day by day through a comprehensive approach that combines prevention, a visible presence on the ground, and the quality of public spaces.

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The key role of municipalities in the sense of security

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Municipalities play a central role in prevention. Public lighting, for example, is a decisive factor. Insufficient lighting, poorly adapted shutdowns, or inadequately lit areas quickly reinforce feelings of insecurity, particularly at pedestrian crossings, along frequently used pathways, or in certain sensitive spaces.

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Urban planning also has a strong influence on the perception of safety. Clear, well-maintained public spaces, animated by local businesses and an active neighborhood life, encourage informal social control. Very often, the feeling of insecurity does not stem directly from criminal acts, but from environmental and social factors.

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Police presence and victim support

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The role of the police goes far beyond repression alone. A visible presence in public spaces provides reassurance, fosters connections, and facilitates dialogue with residents. It also makes it possible to tailor interventions to local realities identified through security assessments.

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Support for victims is another essential pillar. Beyond the offense itself, the authorities acknowledge the psychological impact of violence, particularly when incidents are filmed or shared on social media, leading to a form of double victimization.

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Practical tools serving the public

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Practical tools help complement this approach. The “Genève en poche” app, for example, allows users to report incidents of street harassment or inappropriate behavior. These reports help identify problematic locations and guide preventive measures and police presence in a more targeted manner.

In response to the rise in cybercrime, digital prevention has also become essential. Phishing, online scams, identity theft, and deepfakes now affect a broad segment of the population. Awareness and prevention efforts therefore target not only citizens, but also young people and businesses.

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Preventing crime means acting upstream through non-repressive measures that reduce the likelihood of offenses. Residents do not move through public spaces with statistics in mind, but with a personal sense of safety. Responses must therefore be visible, understandable, and adapted to on-the-ground realities.

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Conclusion

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Security in Geneva cannot be reduced to a purely statistical reading, nor to individual perceptions alone. Yes, crime increased by 8% in 2024, but this figure only takes on its full meaning when it is placed in context and analyzed with rigor.

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One of the key lessons drawn from these data lies precisely in this gap: while the number of recorded offenses is rising, the feeling of insecurity among residents in the canton is tending to decline. This apparent contradiction highlights a frequently overlooked reality—perceptions of security do not always align with statistical realities.

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The responses implemented rest on several complementary pillars:

• active and targeted prevention,
• a visible and appropriately adapted police presence,
• strengthened support for victims,
• close cooperation between the state, municipalities, and citizens.

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Faced with complex challenges, the Geneva approach favors analysis over emotional reaction. The shared priorities defined by political authorities, the police, and the judiciary reflect this logic of reasoned, evidence-based governance.

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At a time when information circulates rapidly and perceptions sometimes spread faster than facts, security remains above all a matter of method, coordination, and collective clarity.

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Statistical sources – crime in Geneva (2013–2024)

2013 - 2014 - 2015 - 2016 - 2017 - 2018 - 2019 - 2020 - 2021 - 2022 - 2023 - 2024