NCJ Number
51528
Date Published
1976
Length
20 pages
Annotation
THE FORMATION OF THE SWEDISH NATIONAL POLICE FORCE ASSIMILATED THE 18,000 OFFICERS FORMERLY EMPLOYED BY MUNICIPALITIES INTO A SINGLE UNIT DIRECTED BY THE NATIONAL GOVERNMENT.
Abstract
BALANCING THE POLITICAL OBJECTIONS AGAINST THE PRACTICAL DEFICIENCIES OF OVER 500 POLICE FORCES IN A COUNTRY OF ONLY 8 MILLION PEOPLE, THE SWEDISH GOVERNMENT NATIONALIZED ITS MUNICIPAL POLICE FORCES IN 1965. A TRANSITION SYSTEM BEGAN IN THE 1930'S AFTER THE USE OF REGULAR MILITARY TROOPS TO QUELL LABOR RIOTS PROVED UNACCEPTABLE. THE STATE POLICE OF THE TRANSITION WERE RECRUITED FROM EXISTING CITY POLICE AND WERE UTILIZED FOR TRAFFIC CONTROL AND CRIMINAL INVESTIGATION. BY 1965 THE SYSTEM OF MULTIPLE POLICE FORCES WITH CONCURRENT JURISDICTION WAS IN CHAOS. OF THE HUNDREDS OF INDIVIDUAL POLICE FORCES ONLY 30 PERCENT HAD OVER 10 EMPLOYEES, AND A THIRD HAD LESS THAN 5 MEN. THESE FORCES WERE INCAPABLE OF PROVIDING COMPLETE POLICE SERVICES SUCH AS TECHNICAL INVESTIGATIONS AND AROUND-THE-CLOCK PROTECTION. THE SEPARATE ORGANIZATIONS WERE ALSO HAMPERED BY EXCESSIVE LOCAL PROCEDURES FROM OPERATING OUTSIDE THEIR INDIVIDUAL DISTRICTS, WHICH CONTRIBUTED TO A VERY LOW RATE OF CRIMINAL APPREHENSION. THE ORGANIZATION OF THE SWEDISH NATIONAL POLICE CORRESPONDS TO THE BASIC GOVERNMENTAL STRUCTURE BY HAVING A THREE-LEVEL DIVISION OF AUTHORITY INTO NATIONAL, REGIONAL, AND LOCAL BRANCHES. THE 554 FORMER POLICE FORCES WERE INCORPORATED INTO THE ONE NATIONAL FORCE WITH AUTHORITY DELEGATED TO 119 LOCAL DISTRICTS. THE DISTRICTS WERE FORMED ACCORDING TO THE DEMOGRAPHY AND NEED OF THE COUNTRY, RATHER THAN BY PURELY GEOGRAPHIC CRITERIA. WITH AN ADEQUATE NUMBER OF OFFICERS ON MOST OF THE DISTRICT FORCES, EACH DISTRICT CAN FORM MORE SPECIALIZED UNITS, AND WORK WITH A LOCAL CITIZENS BOARD. THERE IS COMPLETE MOBILITY BETWEEN EACH OF THE DISTRICTS, WITH OFFICERS BEING EASILY REASSIGNED TO DIFFERENT DISTRICTS ACCORDING TO THE SEASONAL OR EMERGENCY NEEDS OF VARIOUS PARTS OF THE COUNTRY. THE EFFECTIVENESS OF THE REORGANIZATION WAS DEMONSTRATED DURING THE STUDENT RIOTS OF 1968 WHEN STOCKHOLM WAS RAPIDLY REINFORCED BY POLICE FROM OUTLYING DISTRICTS. ANNUALLY, AS THE TOURIST SEASON DRAWS THE POPULATION FROM THE URBAN AREAS TO THE BEACHES, THE POLICE ARE REDEPLOYED, FOLLOWING THE PEOPLE AS THEY MOVE. THE UNIFICATION OF THE POLICE HAS ALSO RESULTED IN ECONOMICS OF SCALE, SUCH AS THE DISCOUNTING AVAILABLE FROM MANUFACTURERS OF POLICE EQUIPMENT TO VOLUME PURCHASERS. (TWK)