I would like to ask what should one do when this is too obvious especially when crossing the border in to CH ? I have found that some of the border police are just outright rude.

Don't cross the border then...

Two posts from the Op so far, both of them loaded with insinuations.

This is going to be fun.

Yes they do, for instance a group of dark skinned young gentlemen, in a top of the range BMW with dutch plates will probably get stopped, period.

I think men trying to disguise themselves, by wearing the burkha and concealing contraband underneath, doesn't help.

...or a group of shaven headed englishmen in white t-shirts, red braces, jeans and doc martins, a few hours before a football match between CH and UK

The police are rude to everyone, that in itself is not race-specific.

However, if we are being honest the Swiss police, and indeed some of the older generation of Swiss, are not as colour-friendly as other more multi-cultural places in Europe (how many black or Asian Swiss police do you see?). However in my view it is for the most part often not racism, it is cultural unfamiliarity, and if you did still feel you were discriminated against due to your race there is absolutely nothing you can do about it other than putting in an official complaint to the relevant police department, which will in real terms also get you absolutely nowhere.

Hey it could be worse, you could be in Hungary.

PS: Welcome to Switzerland.

I'm white British. A year or so before Schengen came in, I was stopped by the German guards five times in a row going into Germany - pulled over, passports taken away and inspected. The fifth time we did query it and it never happened again, but clearly they were looking for people fitting a profile. It's not racial profiling - just profiling.

I did see a border guard on a train giving a black French girl a very hard time (reduced her to tears) - but not as hard a time as the Swiss people in the next carriage gave him who'd seen what was happening!

As far as rudeness goes when dealing with officialdom I adopt a passive attitude. Answer their questions, be polite, get through as quickly as possible without hassle.

__________________
Down with racism. Long live miscegenation!

I got stopped once at the border. Maybe because crossing at Delle with AI plates is suspicious. They weren't interested in the big load of Belgian Beer in the boot however :-)

I got stopped last time with USA plates after their offices closed . (just the 2 people left in the office) to declare.

Got a good old scolding from 1 of them (older gent) and he could have cared less that the truck broke down on the way making me late.

He refused to help me, speak in English or French (luckily I speak almost conversational German, not enough to get technical terms though) and told me to figure it out..... . Even the people behind me told me outside what an ass he was to me so I was not imagining it.... .

His lady colleague who then helped me was incredibly nice to me and gave me all the info and forms to be on my merry way...... .

Same thing when I imported my bmw from Holland. drove a bit far from the import line and got a nice escort after again a scolding from a guy , back to the import building....

So it's a hit or miss really but I usually have a lot more luck with the lady officers..

Oh, you were in Basel back in September last year as well, were you?

If I cross the border in a T-shirt or hoodie I may get stopped, but if I'm in my suit (e.g. after work) it never happens (same face, same car).
It would be nice to know what kind of selection criteria they have in their official work manuals, or is it all just hunch, suspicion and random luck?

When they stop you are you wearing your stupid profile hat?

there was a TV show with both UK and Aussie immigration/customs at airports. It was interesting how they stopped some, went to great lengths and they where right and other times they where wrong.

I have never been stopped here on the french side, it seems the border here is more lax? Never anyone else is checked, usually in geneva you just walk off the train and there is no one there to check anything.

You tell me

Attached Images

 

Police learn how to "read" people, and certain things can get their attention. Could be very subjective, but they do have the prerogative to act on their gut instincts or suspicions. This is mental profiling, and it could involve race. Also, they often get debriefed by bulletins to look out for certain things, so their priorities may be different from one day to the next.

I think you just need to give them a few cigarettes to keep them quiet and they'll let you go on your way.

That's what I did in India when the Police kept stopping me - I'm sure they were racial profiling there too.

Reflective of the underlying population - how many black or Asian Swiss nationals are there of the relevant age group?


Swiss nationality is a prerequisite to enter the Swiss police.

Odd thing to do for someone who is so anti-smoking, surely ?

If you ever drive through Zurich with Aargauer license plates, EVERYBODY will profile you.

Or wear white socks with short parts.