PRIVATE POLICE - SWEDEN (FROM POLICE AND SOCIAL ORDER 1979, BY JOHANNES KNUTSSON, ET AL - SEE NCJ-60476)

• NCJ Number: 60483
• Author(s): D MAGNUSSON
• Date Published: 1979
• Length: 9 pages
• Corporate Author: Brottsforebyggande Radet
• Publication Format: Document
• Language: English
• Country: Sweden

Annotation

THE NUMBER AND ACTIVITIES OF THE 'PRIVATE' POLICE IN SWEDEN ARE EXAMINED, AND IMPLICATIONS OF FINDINGS ARE DISCUSSED.

Abstract

THERE ARE TWO GENERAL TYPES OF PRIVATE POLICE IN SWEDEN WHOSE PERFORMANCES ARE PAID FOR IN A FREE MARKET-WATCHMEN AND SECURITY GUARDS. ACCORDING TO AN ACT OF PARLIAMENT DEALING WITH COMPANIES EMPLOYING WATCHMEN, A WATCHMAN IS DEFINED AS A PERSON EMPLOYED BY AN AUTHORIZED INDUSTRIAL SECURITY SERVICE, WHOSE TASK IT IS TO GUARD OBJECTS OR ACTIVITIES AGAINST FORMS OF DAMAGE THROUGH SUPERVISION, CONTROL, OR KEEPING WATCH. WHILE A WATCHMAN ENJOYS THE EXTRA PERSONAL PROTECTION AGAINST VIOLENCE AND THREAT ACCORDED A PUBLIC OFFICIAL, A WATCHMAN HAS NO GREATER AUTHORITY TO TAKE LEGAL ACTION AGAINST A CITIZEN THAN OTHER SWEDISH CITIZENS (RIGHT TO ARREST A PERSON WHO MAY HAVE COMMITTED A CRIME LEADING TO PRISON). A SECURITY GUARD IS A PERSON WHO HAS RECEIVED SPECIAL PERMISSION BY THE POLICE TO CONDUCT POLICE SUPERVISION WITHIN A PRESCRIBED AREA OF APPOINTMENT. AT THE END OF 1974, THERE WERE 18,081 VALID APPOINTMENTS OF SECURITY GUARDS IN SWEDEN AND 6,900 WATCHMEN WHO LACKED APPOINTMENT AS SECURITY GUARDS. AT THE END OF 1974, THE SWEDISH PRIVATE POLICE THUS COMPRISED 24,981 PERSONS. IN 1977, THE SWEDISH NATIONAL POLICE NUMBERED SOME 15,000. TWO GOVERNMENT COMMISSIONS DEAL WITH MATTERS BEARING ON PRIVATE POLICE. ONE COMMISSION DEALS WITH THE TRAINING OF WATCHMEN AND THE OTHER WITH A REVISION OF REGULATIONS FOR SECURITY GUARDS. A CENTRAL QUESTION RAISED BY THE PROPORTIONATELY LARGE NUMBER OF PRIVATE POLICE IS WHETHER OR NOT THE DEGREE OF PROTECTION RECEIVED BY CITIZENS IS BASED LARGELY ON THE AMOUNT OF MONEY THAT CAN BE PAID, WITH FIRMS AND CITIZENS OF LESSER AFFLUENCE RECEIVING LESS SECURITY AND THUS BECOMING MORE INVITING TARGETS FOR CRIME. THE PUBLIC POLICE ARE NOT IN A POSITION TO DEVOTE MORE TIME TO PERSONS, BUSINESSES, AND ACTIVITIES NOT COVERED BY PRIVATE POLICE. EQUALITY BEFORE THE LAW THUS BECOMES AN ISSUE WHEN THE EXPANDING ROLE OF PRIVATE POLICE IS OBSERVED. TABULAR DATA ARE PROVIDED. (RCB)