National Police Commissioner (Sweden) Explained

Post:National Police Commissioner
Body:the Swedish Police Authority
Native Name:Rikspolischef
Insignia:Swedish-police-rank-new-01.svg
Insigniasize:100 px
Insigniacaption:Epaulette worn for the grade of National Police Commissioner (post-2015)
Incumbent:Petra Lundh
Incumbentsince:1 December 2023
Reports To:Government of Sweden
Seat:Polishuset, Kungsholmen, Stockholm
Appointer:Government of Sweden
Termlength:6 years
Termlength Qualified:option to extended up to 3 years
Formation:1965
First:Carl Persson
Deputy:Head of the National Operations Department
Website:Official website

The National Police Commissioner of Sweden (Swedish: rikspolischef) is the head of the Swedish Police Authority, appointed by the Government, responsible for all activities of the police. The current Commissioner is Petra Lundh, who began serving December 1, 2023.

Role

The office was created with the establishment of the National Police Board and the nationalization of the Swedish police in 1965.[1] The Commissioner is appointed by the Government for a period of six years, with an option to extend, but as a rule for no more than three years. The person holding the office must be a Swedish citizen.[2] Beyond that, the Government has considerable latitude in the recruitment of a new Commissioner, as the only legal framework is a single article in the constitution, leaving wide room for interpretation: "Appointments to posts at administrative authorities [organized] under the Government are made by the Government [...] When making appointments to posts within the State administration, only objective factors, such as merit and competence, shall be taken into account."[3] The government has the power to dismiss a Commissioner for "extraordinary" and serious reasons, or if it's "in the nation's best interest." The Commissioner may also be reassigned to a different post, if called for due to organizational change, but only after a court decision.

List of National Police Commissioners

The current Commissioner is Petra Lundh.

List of commissionersThe following lists commissioners in chronological order:

See also

External links

Notes and References

  1. Encyclopedia: Rikspolisstyrelsen. Nationalencyklopedin. Swedish. 28 July 2015 .
  2. Web site: SFS 1994:260 Lag om offentlig anställning. Public Employment Act . Swedish. 28 April 1994. Government of Sweden. 17 August 2015 .
  3. Web site: Sverige förtjänar en professionell utnämningspolitik. Österberg . Sven-Erik. Swedish. 23 November 2009. Swedish Social Democratic Party. 28 July 2015 .