NCJ Number
49713
Journal
BRA - APROPA Issue: 1 Dated: (1978) Pages: 11-17
Date Published
1978
Length
7 pages
Annotation
THE SWEDISH PRIVATE POLICE FORCE, INCLUDING BOTH GUARDS AND WATCHMEN, IS DISCLOSED. SWEDEN HAD A TOTAL OF 25,000 PRIVATE POLICE OFFICERS IN 1975 AS OPPOSED TO 15,000 REGULAR POLICE OFFICERS.
Abstract
IN 1976, THERE WERE 75 AUTHORIZED PRIVATE SECURITY COMPANIES IN SWEDEN. BEVAKNINGS INCORPORATED SECURITAS ACCOUNTS FOR 60 PERCENT OF THE SECURITY WORK DONE IN THE COUNTRY WHILE THE GOVERNMENT POLICE FORCES CLAIM THE NEXT LARGEST SHARE. SECURITY ACTIVITIES PERFORMED BY PRIVATE POLICE INCLUDE ENSURING INDUSTRIAL AND PORT SECURITY, GUARDING RESIDENTIAL AND SHOPPING AREAS, AND WATCHING DEPARTMENT STORE MERCHANDISE. BETTER REGULATIONS ARE NEEDED FOR CONTROLLING PRIVATE POLICE POWER. PRESENTLY, ONLY GUARDS HAVE POWERS COMPARABLE WITH REGULAR POLICE DEPENDING ON THEIR FUNCTION. THE GROUP DESIGNATED AS WATCHMEN HAVE NO POWERS DELEGATED THEM THAT AN ORDINARY CITIZEN DOES NOT HAVE. TRAINING AND EDUCATIONAL CRITERIA AND EMPLOYMENT QUALIFICATIONS SHOULD BE ESTABLISHED FOR THIS LARGE GROUP OF PRIVATE POLICE. TABLES PRESENT DATA ON NUMBERS OF POLICE EMPLOYED WITHIN PRIVATE COMPANIES AND SELF-EMPLOYED. --IN SWEDISH. (DAG)