National Police Commissioner (Sweden)

Head of the Swedish Police Authority

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National Police Commissioner of the Swedish Police Authority

Rikspolischef

Epaulette worn for the grade of National Police Commissioner (post-2015)

Incumbent
Petra Lundh

since 1 December 2023

Reports to| Government of Sweden
Seat| Polishuset, Kungsholmen, Stockholm
Appointer| Government of Sweden
Term length| 6 years
option to extended up to 3 years
Formation| 1965
First holder| 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

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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][a] 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.[2][3]

## List of National Police Commissioners

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The current Commissioner is Petra Lundh.

Björn Eriksson, former National Police Commissioner and President of Interpol, here pictured in 2009.

List of commissioners

The following lists commissioners in chronological order:[1]

* 1964–1978: Carl Persson
* 1978–1987: Holger Romander
* January 1988 – October 1988: Nils Erik Åhmansson
* 1988–1996: Björn Eriksson
* 1996–2004: Sten Heckscher
* 2005–2007: Stefan Strömberg
* 2008–2014: Bengt Svenson
* 2014–2018: Dan Eliasson
* 2018–2023: Anders Thornberg
* 2023–present: Petra Lundh

## Notes

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1. ^ See the official translation of the constitution at the Riksdag website: 1974 Instrument of Government, Chapter 12, Art. 5

## References

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1. ^ a b "Rikspolisstyrelsen". Nationalencyklopedin (in Swedish). Retrieved 28 July 2015.
2. ^ a b "SFS 1994:260 Lag om offentlig anställning" [Public Employment Act] (in Swedish). Government of Sweden. 28 April 1994. Retrieved 17 August 2015.
3. ^ a b Österberg, Sven-Erik (23 November 2009). "Sverige förtjänar en professionell utnämningspolitik" (PDF) (in Swedish). Swedish Social Democratic Party. Retrieved 28 July 2015.

## See also

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* Prosecutor-General of Sweden
* Supreme Commander of the Swedish Armed Forces

## External links

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* Official website