Sweden is at war. The first wave of attacks on strategic targets in Stockholm has resulted in severe damage to infrastructure and numerous fatalities. Now, in a city marked by chaos, artillery bombardment and drone attacks are a daily reality. The VMA alert signal (Sweden's public warning system) echoes through the city's streets, a constant reminder of the threat above and the dangers all around. The Swedish Armed Forces (Försvarsmakten) and the Swedish Police Authority (Polismyndigheten) are on the front line. The police work tirelessly to secure critical infrastructure and direct traffic during military operations, despite streams of refugees and abandoned vehicles blocking the roads. Criminal networks are exploiting the situation for theft and human smuggling, both within and beyond the country's borders. There are suspicions that certain networks are collaborating with the foreign power, assisting it through sabotage and other acts in support of the enemy's war effort. The police are now directed from alternative command locations, where everything from war crimes investigations to the coordination of international support is handled in a struggle to preserve the nation's security and stability.
War would have an enormous impact on the police, with an expanded mandate and a drastically altered operational environment filled with psychological strain. Sweden's changed security situation and experiences from Ukraine clearly demonstrate the need to prepare for similar scenarios.
In wartime, the police would face an increased workload and expanded responsibilities, such as maintaining order and security while simultaneously supporting the Swedish Armed Forces. This includes traffic management, guarding, evacuation, cordoning, and border control. Day-to-day tasks could involve countering looting, investigating war crimes, and assisting with the requisitioning of personnel and property for the needs of total defence (totalförsvar). The police would also need to support the military in security operations and assist with the evacuation of civilians from dangerous areas. The changed threat picture would force reprioritisation and lead to new tasks requiring new capabilities.
Experiences from Ukraine demonstrate the low regard shown by Russia for the laws of war. 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 zones means a constant risk of fire, mines, and other forms of violence. The police would frequently become targets for attack, leading to casualties and injuries among personnel. To address this threat, the police may need to develop new tactics and security measures to protect both themselves and civilians.
The moral and psychological pressures on the police would be immense. The increased stress and constant risks would likely have a negative impact on the morale and wellbeing of police personnel. Officers and their families would be directly affected by the war, leading to a greater need for psychological support and measures to address trauma. The constant fear of direct and indirect fire would create an intense and demanding working environment. Addressing these challenges requires a new and potentially more military-oriented mindset, as well as substantial investment in psychosocial support to ensure that officers can carry out their duties effectively. The high risk of injury and death among police officers also places demands on the continuous replenishment of personnel through recruitment and training.
It is clear that the Swedish Police Authority would face a range of demanding tasks in the event of an armed attack. Assigning police personnel to wartime roles is a positive step, but building a functioning wartime organisation and exercising it in preparation for the challenges described represents the real difficulty. The Police Authority must therefore strengthen its preparedness and ensure sufficient personnel to fulfil a variety of tasks across the full spectrum of conflict. This includes preparing for significant personnel losses in wartime and working now to secure long-term sustainability through personnel supply strategies.
The changed operational environment and the considerable psychological pressures demand new tactics and a broader approach to security. Experiences from Ukraine show that police officers can become legitimate targets, underscoring the need for thorough preparation and support. This may involve new protective equipment and additional weapons beyond those currently available. The Police Authority must also ensure logistical flows to manage the increased strain and equipment damage that war entails. This includes building stocks of necessary materiel, securing transport and maintenance, and developing strategies to sustain operational capacity during intense and prolonged crisis situations. In this regard, cooperation with private actors may prove decisive.
The police are a critical component 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 closely interlinked within the framework of total defence (totalförsvar). It is therefore essential to shine a light on police preparedness issues. Given the current starting point and the strained situation...