[4] The new authority was created to address shortcomings in the division of duties and responsibilities, and to make it easier for the Government to demand greater accountability.

[11][12][a] The agency is governed by general policy instruments and is subject to a number of sanctions and oversight functions, to ensure that the exercise of public authority is in compliance with regulations.

[20][21] These guards were assisted by the military, fire patrolmen, and a civilian unit that did not wear a uniform, but instead wore a small badge around the neck.

The office of Police Commissioner (polismästare) was created, with the first title holder being Nils Henric Liljensparre, who was given command of the civilian unit responsible for law and order in the city, now partly financed by the State.

The system of "extra police" did not work well, partly because it was often a temporary position lacking job security, making it difficult to recruit and retain skilled personnel.

[29] There were still some problems maintaining order when larger crowds gathered, as evidenced by the Ådalen shootings in 1931, where the military was called in as reinforcement during a violent labor dispute, killing five.

[4] The new authority was created to address shortcomings in the organization of the division of duties and responsibilities, to reduce differences between police regions, ease governance and increase accountability.

[35] The Swedish police also carry out a number of administrative functions, such as the issuing of passports, national identity cards and various kinds of permits and licenses.

[41] In a study made by Swedish National Council for Crime Prevention in 2014, the number of legal proceedings per 1,000 inhabitants was about the same level in Sweden as in other comparable European countries.

[48] Management Support Core activity The Government also appoints a 15-member non-executive council, alongside the Commissioner, to satisfy the need for transparency and citizen participation.

It is required to meet six times per year and must be composed of at least one member from each party serving the Riksdag, and should beyond that proportionally reflect the election results.

Furthermore, it handles all contacts with the Swedish Security Service, the Armed Forces and the National Defence Radio Establishment, and manages sensitive information about terrorism and signals intelligence.

[55] There are also 27 police districts—organized under the regions—tasked with leading, coordinating, monitoring and analysing the operational activities in their geographical area, which is typically based on the boundaries of a county.

The phrase Stockholm syndrome was coined by the criminologist and psychiatrist Nils Bejerot in connection with the protracted siege, as a state where hostages start to sympathize with their captor.

Subsequently, the units were formed in 1979 as the regular police force were deemed insufficiently trained and ill-equipped to deal with similar events.

It was originally formed in 1991 solely as a counter-terrorist task force in the wake of the assassination of Prime Minister Olof Palme, on the recommendations put forward by a 1988 Government inquiry.

The helicopter units are fully manned 24 hours a day, often tasked with providing aerial surveillance, assisting in vehicle pursuits and in search and rescue operations.

The helicopters are also used for transport, to reduce time to target during critical interventions by bomb technicians and officers of the National Task Force.

[73] The two Bell 429s will reinforce the police's aviation and counter terrorism capabilities with one to be based in Stockholm alongside the National Task Force and the other one in Skåne.

[77][66] A number of sanctions and oversight functions exist to ensure that the application of legislation and the exercise of public authority are in compliance with regulations.

The most serious cases of professional misconduct may be prosecuted under the Swedish Penal Code as misuse of office/dereliction of duty (tjänstefel), carrying a maximum penalty of six years imprisonment.

Less serious cases of misconduct or negligent performance of duties may lead to disciplinary action in the form of a warning, wage deduction or ultimately dismissal.

Officers work closely with a special chamber of prosecutors reporting directly to the Prosecutor-General of Sweden, tasked with leading investigations and deciding which cases should be processed.

[82] The matter of supervision of the police have been the subject of several Government inquiries,[78] most recently by a parliamentary committee in June 2015, which recommended the creation of a new supervisory body.

[88] The training now covers five terms, and the last two include six months of paid workplace practice as a Police Trainee (equivalent to two and a half years of full-time studying).

In 1968, the National Police Board decided that all women should be placed in investigation units or on other duties excluding them from patrols and recruitment picked up speed again.

[101][102] Swedish procurement legislation, largely based on EU Directives, prohibit discrimination on the basis of nationality, sex, religion, gender and politics.

Police officers especially favoured the Volvo XC70 because of its handling, durability and high ground clearance, providing for easier ingress and egress.

[109] In the northern parts of Sweden, police commonly use snowmobiles and work alonside Customs and the Swedish Mountain Rescue Services (Fjällräddningen).

[137] Included in the uniform is a police duty belt consisting of a handgun holster, a helmet fastener, and several pouches for the handcuffs, spare magazines, the pepper spray canister and baton.