Sweden's National Police Commissioner says the country needs 10,000 additional police officers. Petra Lundh stated Sweden must increase police numbers to match European Union averages.
Currently Sweden has nearly 25,000 police officers. The force continues growing but lacks clear targets. The government has delayed setting new police staffing goals.
Previous targets called for 10,000 more officers by 2024. That goal was not achieved as planned. Too many civilian staff were hired instead of sworn police officers.
Politicians now want to base police targets on officer density per population. This approach considers how many officers serve specific areas.
Sweden faces ongoing challenges with organized crime and gang violence. More police could help address these security issues. But funding and recruitment remain practical concerns.
The delay in setting new targets suggests political disagreements about police funding priorities. Sweden must balance law enforcement needs against other public spending demands.