Police at War

Sweden is at war. The first wave of attacks on strategic targets in Stockholm (capital of Sweden) resulted in severe damage to infrastructure and many casualties. Now, in a city marked by chaos, artillery shelling and drone attacks are everyday occurrences. The VMA signal echoes through the city's streets, a constant reminder of the threat above and the dangers around. The Swedish Armed Forces (Försvarsmakten) and the Police Authority are on the front line. The police work tirelessly to secure critical infrastructure and direct traffic during military operations, despite refugee flows and abandoned vehicles blocking the roads. Criminal networks exploit the situation for theft and human smuggling, both within and outside the country's borders. There are suspicions that some networks collaborate with the foreign power, assisting them through sabotage and other actions to support the enemy's war efforts. The police are now directed from alternative command centres, where everything from war crime investigations to coordination of international support is handled in a fight to preserve the nation's security and stability.

War would have a tremendous impact on the police, with expanded missions and a drastically changed operational environment filled with psychological strains. Our changed security situation and experiences from Ukraine clearly show the need to prepare for similar situations.

In war, the police would face increased workloads and expanded duties, such as maintaining order and security while supporting the Swedish Armed Forces. This includes traffic direction, surveillance, evacuation, cordoning, and border control. Daily life could involve countering looting, investigating war crimes, and assisting with requisitioning personnel and property for the needs of total defence. The police would also need to assist the military in security operations and support the evacuation of civilians from dangerous areas. The changed problem landscape would force reprioritisation, leading to altered tasks that require new capabilities.

Experiences from Ukraine show the low respect for the laws of war from the Russian side. Police stations, police vehicles, and police personnel have been legitimate targets. The Swedish Police Authority must therefore prepare for the possibility that the laws of war will not be respected in a future conflict, which entails a significant risk of injury and death among police employees. Operating in conflict areas involves constant risk of shelling, mines, and other violence. The police would often become targets for attacks, leading to losses and injuries among personnel. To manage this threat, the police may need to develop new tactics and security measures to protect themselves and civilians.

The moral and psychological strains on the police would be enormous. The increased stress and constant risks would likely negatively affect the morale and well-being of police personnel. Police officers and their families would be directly affected by the war, leading to an increased need for psychological support and interventions to manage trauma. The constant fear of direct and indirect fire would create an intense and demanding work environment. Handling these challenges requires a new and perhaps military mindset, as well as extensive investments in psychosocial support to ensure that police officers can perform their duties effectively. The high risk of injuries and fatalities among police officers also demands continuous replenishment of personnel through recruitment and training.

It is clear that the Police Authority would face a range of demanding tasks during an armed attack. Assigning police personnel to wartime roles is beneficial, but building a functional wartime organisation and training it for the described challenges are the real difficulties. Therefore, the Police Authority must strengthen its preparedness and ensure sufficient personnel to handle various tasks across the conflict spectrum. This includes preparing for significant personnel losses in war and already working to ensure sustainability through personnel supply strategies.

The changed operational environment and the significant psychological strains require new tactics and a broader security mindset. Experiences from Ukraine show that police officers can become legitimate targets, underscoring the need for careful preparation and support. This may involve new protective equipment and other reinforcement armaments than those currently available. The Police Authority must also ensure logistical flows to handle increased strains and damage to equipment that war entails. This includes building stocks of necessary materiel, ensuring transport and maintenance, and developing strategies to maintain operational capacity during intense and prolonged crisis situations. In this, collaboration with private actors can be crucial.

The police are a critical part of civil defence, and without a well-functioning civil defence, it is not possible to maintain an effective military defence. Military and civil defence efforts are intimately connected in total defence. Therefore, it is crucial to highlight police preparedness issues. Given the current situation and the strained circumstances...