The police have submitted their budget for the next three years. It is clear from this that the police believe they need more than the government has announced so far.
Already next year, the police want 2.5 billion kronor more than the nearly 51 billion the government has announced, and the following year just over 6 billion more.
According to National Police Commissioner Petra Lundh, they are fully aware this is a lot of money. But she says it is important that the police receive it.
"We need to create conditions so that all employees can do a really effective job. We need premises, vehicles and other things so that the police can be out there," says Petra Lundh.
Trained and equipped
The money will primarily go towards continued investment in more police officers. Sweden currently has a police density of around 230 police officers per 100,000 inhabitants, but the government's goal is for it to be at least as many as the EU average.
Previously, it was around 340 per 100,000 inhabitants, so we still have a long way to go, Lundh says.
The government has not said when the goal will be reached. But according to the National Police Commissioner, the police force is currently growing by 1,700 new police officers each year, many of whom are in external service. She emphasizes that all these police officers must be trained and equipped. Everything from detention facilities, canteens and changing rooms to more police cars and new IT solutions is needed.
At the same time, the security situation is creating new demands. In order to meet different types of threats, the police want, among other things, more drones and more armored vehicles.
These are vehicles that can be used in high-alert situations, sabotage and other serious situations, but also in situations such as explosions, Lundh says.
Keep in your wallet
The police also want to strengthen their helicopter capabilities and upgrade the former site of the Stockholm Police Academy, Sörentorp, into a new training facility. The introduction of the next generation of the Rakel communication system is also expected to entail significantly increased costs over several years.
Minister of Finance Elisabeth Svantesson (M) has also signaled that the state may need to hold tight to its budget during the next term.
"It's a dialogue politicians should have among themselves. This is the demand and the money that we see we need if we are to be able to do everything we want to do," says Petra Lundh.
If the police were to receive the money they are requesting, the total allocation in 2029 would amount to 60.7 billion kronor. That is almost twice as much as in 2022.
Police funding has increased in recent years:
2022: SEK 33 billion
2023: SEK 37 billion
2024: SEK 40.8 billion
2025: SEK 45.2 billion
2026: SEK 48.4 billion
For 2027–2029, the police expect the allocation according to the 2026 budget bill to be approximately SEK 51 billion per year.
In 2027, they want SEK 2.5 billion in addition to this (total appropriation SEK 53.5 billion), in 2028 SEK 6.2 billion more (total appropriation SEK 57.2 billion) and in 2029 SEK 9.6 billion more (total appropriation SEK 60.7 billion).
Source: Government budget, police budget basis 2027–2029
