Record increase of police on the streets in Sweden – but still far from the EU average
Stockholm – The Swedish government wants to see more visible police locally. This was one of the change assignments that the National Police Commissioner Petra Lundh received when she took office a year and a half ago.
In a year and a half, the increase is just over 1,100 uniformed police officers. This means that Sweden currently has just over 10,600 uniformed police officers in active service.
“This is an increase of twelve percent in a year and a half, the largest increase ever that we have been able to measure,” says Stefan Hector, Deputy National Police Commissioner.
Today, Sweden has 225 police officers per 100,000 inhabitants. However, the government wants Sweden to reach a police density corresponding to the EU average, which today is between 330 and 340 police officers per 100,000 inhabitants.
“If we are to reach the EU average, it would certainly take ten years,” says National Police Commissioner Petra Lundh.
Having more visible police locally is seen as important to help ordinary people with crime in everyday life.
(July 21)
