Police ranks of Sweden explained

Police ranks of Sweden are the police ranks used by the Swedish Police Authority.

2022-

In 2022, the new Career and Development Paths (Karriär- och utvecklingsvägar, KUV) system was introduced with the aim of, among other things, increasing salaries, including changes to police rank designations. This reform introduced an amount of new ranks and levels. For example, the Police Constable rank has been split into five levels (Amended by PMFS 2022:10). These rank designations became effective as of 2023.

The old ranks are still in use alongside the new ranks, as the new rank reform currently only benefit a limited amount of positions, including patrol officers.

The ranks currently in use by the Swedish Police, from top to bottom, are as following:

2015-2022

Swedish police ranks and insignia since 2015[1]
RankRikspolischef
Säkerhetspolischef
Biträdande säkerhetspolischefPolisdirektör
(Chef för polisregion/avdelning eller efter särskilt beslut av rikspolischefen)
Biträdande polisdirektör
(Biträdande för polisregion/avdelning eller efter särskilt beslut av rikspolischefen)
Polismästare
(Chef för polisområde eller efter särskilt beslut)
Polismästare/Polisöverintendent (Chef för enhet, biträdande chef för polisområde)Polisintendent (chef för lokalpolisområde, kanslichef vid polisområde)Polissekreterare [2]
TranslationNational Police Chief
Chief of the Security Police
Deputy Chief of the Security PolicePolice Director
(Regional Police Chief, Department Chief, or after special appointment)
Assistant Police Director
(Deputy regional Police Chief, Deputy department Chief, or after special appointment)
Police Master
(Chief of police area, or after special appointment)
Police Master
Police Senior Intendant (Chief of unit, Deputy chief of police area)
Police Intendant (Chief of a local police area, chief of staff of a police area)Police Secretary
Commonwealth equivalentInspector-GeneralDeputy Inspector-GeneralCommissionerDeputy CommissionerAssistant CommissionerChief SuperintendentSenior SuperintendentSuperintendent
Insignia
RankPoliskommisarie
Kriminalkommissarie,
(Chef för sektion)
Poliskommisarie
Kriminalkommissarie
(Befäl/arbetsledare, biträdande chef för section/lokalpolisområde, chef för befälsgrupp på indirect nivå)
Poliskommisarie
Kriminalkommissarie
Polisinspektör
Kriminalinspektör
(Chef för grupp)
Polisinspektör
Kriminalinspektör
(Befäl/arbetsledare
Polisinspektör
Kriminalinspektör
Polisassistent
(4 års anställning)
PolisassistentPolisaspirant
TranslationPolice Commissar
Detective Commissar
(Chief of section)
Police Commissar
Detective Commissar
(Supervisor, deputy chief of section/local police area)
Police Commissar
Detective Commissar
Police Inspector
Detective Inspector
(Chief of group)
Police Inspector
Detective Inspector
(Supervisor)
Police Inspector
Detective Inspector
Police Assistant
(4 years' service)
Police AssistantPolice Aspirant
Commonwealth equivalentDeputy SuperintendentAssistant SuperintendentChief InspectorInspectorSergeant MajorSergeantSenior ConstableConstableStudent Constable
Insignia

Prior to 2015

Swedish police ranks and insignia prior to 2015[3]
Order Insignia Rank Swedish
1.
  • Rikspolischef
2.
  • Överdirektör
  • Chefen för polisavdelningen vid Rikspolisstyrelsen
  • Rikskriminalchef
  • Länspolismästare i Stockholms län, Västra Götaland och Skåne
3.
  • Chief Commissioners outside of Stockholm, Västra Götaland and Skåne County Police Departments
  • Deputy Chief Commissioners, Stockholm, Västra Götaland and Skåne County Police Departments
  • Länspolismästare i alla län utom Stockholm, Västra Götaland och Skåne
  • Biträdande länspolismästare i Stockholms län, Västra Götaland och Skåne
4.
  • Deputy Chief Commissioners outside of Stockholm, Västra Götaland and Skåne County Police Departments
  • District Police Commissioner
  • Deputy Police Commissioner
  • Director at the National Police Academy[4]
  • Head of Division at the National Police Board
  • Biträdande länspolismästare utom i Stockholms län, Västra Götaland och Skåne
  • Polismästare
  • Polisöverintendent
  • Rektor på Polishögskolan
  • Enhetschef Rikspolisstyrelsen
5.
  • Chief Superintendent

Chief of police in a city larger than 35,000 people — for example, Uppsala or Norrköping — or in charge of a department in one of the metropolitan areas.

  • Polisintendent
6.
  • Assistant Police Commissioner

In charge of departments in a county or city, of a police district in the three largest cities and in larger counties.

  • Polissekreterare
7.
  • Superintendent
  • Detective Superintendent

In charge of a police district within a county or city police force, leads a riot police battalion, the riot police unit or helicopter unit for the county police. Usually commands around 300 policemen. Police chief for towns between 10,000 and 22,000 inhabitants.

  • Poliskommisarie,
  • Kriminalkommissarie med särskild tjänsteställning
8.
  • Chief Inspector,
  • Detective Chief Inspector

In charge of a police station in the three largest cities, or a police chief of towns less than 10,000 people. Chief of Company for the riot police and armed units. Usually commands around 120-150 personnel.

  • Poliskommissarie
  • Kriminalkommissarie
9.
  • Inspector
  • Detective Inspector

In charge of a police station or precinct, a riot police unit of 40-45 officers or a police helicopter squadron.

  • Polisinspektör,
  • Kriminalinspektör med särskild tjänsteställning
10.
  • Sergeant
  • Detective Sergeant

Lowest officer rank at precinct level that can make arrests, issue fines, and personally open and lead an investigation. Usually supervises 20-25 policemen or in case of riot police, a squad of 15 riot police officers.

  • Polisinspektör
  • Kriminalinspektör
11.
  • Senior Police Constable, 4 years of employment

Squad leaders, cannot make an arrest or lead/open an investigation unless specifically authorized by a sergeant. However, may issue certain fines. Usually leads squad of 5-6 constables.

  • Polisassistent, 4 års anställning
12.
  • Police Constable

Between 0 and 4 years of service. Patrolling, emergency responses, assistance, etc.

  • Polisassistent
13.
  • Police Trainee
  • Polisaspirant

Notes

  1. https://polisen.se/siteassets/forfattningssamling/fap-nummer/fap798_1_pmfs2018_12.pdf "FAP 798-1 - PMFS 2018:12. Polismyndighetens föreskrifter och allmänna råd om polisens uniformer." Polismyndigheten.
  2. Appointment as polisintendent or polissekreterare requires an academic degree or graduation from the police academy; graduation from the police senior leadership course, and at least three years experience of indirect leadership. (Rikspolisstyrelsens författningssamling 2011:20.)
  3. Web site: TJÄNSTETECKEN Polisens gradbeteckningar. Swedish Police Authority. 3 August 2015. Swedish.
  4. Web site: All about the Swedish National Police Academy. Swedish National Police Academy. 3 August 2015.

External links