ORGANIZATION OF THE SWEDISH POLICE (FROM POLICE AND SOCIAL ORDER, 1979, BY JOHANNES KNUTSSON, ET AL - SEE NCJ-60476)

• NCJ Number: 60477
• Author(s): L E PLANTIN
• Date Published: 1979
• Length: 14 pages
• Corporate Author: Brottsforebyggande Radet
• Publication Format: Document
• Publication Type: Historical Overview
• Language: English
• Country: Sweden

Annotation

A GENERAL OUTLINE OF ORGANIZATIONAL DEVELOPMENTS IN THE SWEDISH POLICE IN RECENT DECADES IS PRESENTED.

Abstract

BY ANCIENT TRADITION THE SWEDISH POLICE WERE A MUNICIPAL AGENCY. GRADUALLY, THE DISADVANTAGES OF THE MUNICIPAL POLICE ORGANIZATION BECAME OBVIOUS WITH THE RAPID DEVELOPMENT OF SWEDEN AS A MOTORIZED SOCIETY AND THE STEEP INCREASE IN SERIOUS CRIME AFTER WORLD WAR II, WITH CRIMINALS BEGINNING TO MAKE USE OF MODERN TRANSPORT FACILITIES TO OPERATE THROUGHOUT SWEDEN AND ABROAD. THE MOST FAR-REACHING REORGANIZATION IN THE HISTORY OF THE SWEDISH POLICE WAS IMPLEMENTED ON JANUARY 1, 1965, WHEN THE MUNICIPAL POLICE FORCES WERE NATIONALIZED. THREE LEVELS OF ORGANIZATION WERE CREATED: THE LOCAL LEVEL--A NUMBER OF POLICE DISTRICTS, THE REGIONAL LEVEL-- THE COUNTY ADMINISTRATIONS, AND THE CENTRAL LEVEL WITH THE NATIONAL POLICE COMMISSIONER AND HIS BOARD. ONE OF THE MOST IMPORTANT TASKS AFTER THE REORGANIZATION WAS THE EFFICIENT COORDINATION OF POLICE ACTIVITIES AT THE VARIOUS LEVELS. RECORDKEEPING AND INFORMATION ACCESS HAS BEEN AIDED BY COMPUTER TECHNOLOGY. MOBILITY HAS BEEN INCREASED THROUGH THE USE OF MODERN LAND, SEA, AND AIR POLICE TRANSPORTATION. CAPITAL IMPROVEMENTS HAVE ALSO BEEN UNDERTAKEN TO IMPROVE POLICE FACILITIES THROUGHOUT THE COUNTRY. ALTHOUGH DEVELOPMENTS DURING THE PAST FEW YEARS HAVE RENDERED POLICE WORK METHODS MORE EFFICIENT, THE CRIME RATE HAS INCREASED, AND THE EXPANDED POLICE WORKLOAD HAS BEEN A PROBLEM. MORE THAN 3,000 NEW OFFICERS HAVE BEEN EMPLOYED IN THE PAST 10 YEARS TO HELP DEAL WITH THE CRIME INCREASE, BUT DUE TO SHORTENED WORKING HOURS, ONLY HALF THIS NUMBER CAN BE REGARDED AS ACTUAL REINFORCEMENT. AT PRESENT THERE ARE SOMEWHAT LESS THAN 16,000 POLICE OFFICERS IN THE SWEDISH POLICE FORCE. IN 1975, THE GOVERNMENT APPOINTED A COMMISSION TO EVALUATE THE EFFECTS OF THE REORGANIZATION. THE COMMISSION PRODUCED A PARTIAL REPORT IN FEBRUARY OF 1979. AFTER DELIBERATION AND REVISIONS, A FINAL PROPOSAL WILL BE PRESENTED TO THE GOVERNMENT IN THE SPRING OF 1980. ORGANIZATIONAL CHARTS FOR THE SWEDISH POLICE SYSTEM AND ITS VARIOUS AGENCIES ARE PROVIDED. (RCB)