MOSCOW (Sputnik) – Switzerland has not been tough enough on criminals in the past as it has not widely used deportation as a deterrent, Deputy Secretary of the Swiss People’s Party Silvia Bar told Sputnik ahead of the upcoming vote on automatic deportation of convicted criminals.
“In Switzerland we have been too lax with criminals in general and have not practiced the deportation of condemned severe criminals,” Bar said.
Switzerland will hold a referendum on February 28 on whether foreign residents should be automatically deported if convicted of committing a crime, ranging from breaking the speed limit to murder.
About a quarter of the Swiss population of 8 million are foreigners, according to the official statistical data.
