FIDES Exercise 26: Police and Army in Bern (cross-border guide)

Context

In brief

• Joint police and army exercise FIDES 26 in the Canton of Bern
• Scenario based on long-term hybrid threat and cyber attacks
• About 180 police officers and one thousand soldiers mobilized
• Evaluation of results expected by the end of the year by the State Council

Key facts

• Name: FIDES 26
• Location: Canton of Bern
• Duration: from Saturday until today
• Police officers: about 180
• Mobilized soldiers: around one thousand
• Organizers: Cantonal Security Department, Cantonal Police, and Territorial Division 1 of the Army
• Planning: nearly two years

Cooperation between the police and the army proved effective during the joint exercise called FIDES 26, which took place from Saturday until today in the Canton of Bern. Security bodies provide mutual support in exceptional situations, confirming how enhanced collaboration concretely contributes to the region's security. The event was jointly organized by the Cantonal Security Department, the Cantonal Police, and Territorial Division 1 of the Army, requiring almost two years of intense planning before its actual implementation in the field.

Scenarios and simulated threats

The operational scenario developed during the exercise focused on a complex, long-term hybrid threat. This context was studied taking into account the growing risk of war in Europe, integrating various fictitious organizations that carried out different actions within the cantonal territory. Among the key simulated elements were targeted cyber attacks, disinformation activities, and acts of terrorism, testing the coordinated reaction capability of the forces in the field under highly challenging and realistic conditions.

Operational details

Intervention methods and departments involved

During the various modules organized at different sites in the Canton of Bern, around 180 cantonal police employees and a thousand soldiers were mobilized. The exercise made it possible to refine multiple operational aspects, including command and coordination under conditions similar to real ones. Field activities focused in particular on the protection of critical infrastructure and the targeted intervention of special units, testing the resilience of security mechanisms in the face of complex and prolonged events.

Evaluation and analysis of weak points

Initial lessons learned by those in charge show that cooperation between the cantonal police and Territorial Division 1 worked well overall regarding the assignment of tasks, the coordination of intervention forces, and the exchange of information. At the same time, the exercise identified certain weak points. These negative aspects are currently undergoing a thorough joint analysis to draw the necessary future lessons, as highlighted by the cantonal security leadership.

The value of field testing

Philippe Müller, member of the Executive Council and Director of the Department of Security, emphasized how an exercise is particularly valuable precisely when it highlights weak points, making it possible to identify areas where processes need to be improved, interfaces perfected, or mutual expectations clarified even further. This concept was also reiterated by the cantonal police commander Christian Brenzikofer, who noted that the goal is not to confirm that everything is done correctly, but rather to discover where improvements can be made for future editions.

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Key points

Future prospects for regional security

The exercise just concluded represented the second edition of the FIDES format in the canton of Bern. The term comes from a Latin word meaning trust and charts the course for future joint preparedness activities between law enforcement and army departments. The commander of the cantonal police Christian Brenzikofer confirmed his intention to look to the future in this direction, laying the foundations for a possible third appointment with FIDES that could take place in a few years, further consolidating the operational and procedural ties between the parties involved in public security.

Publication of official results

The institutional reporting and transparency phase foresees the publication of the final results of the overall assessment by the cantonal security department, led by Philippe Müller, expected by the end of the current year. This step will make it possible to formalize the conclusions drawn from the in-depth analysis and to plan the corrective interventions necessary to optimize the command, coordination and mutual assistance processes between the police authorities and the soldiers of territorial division 1.

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Source: tio.ch