International cooperation
International police cooperation has an increasing impact on Swedish police work and the Swedish Police are internationally active in several areas.
Operational police cooperation
The police participate in international operational police cooperation together with foreign police organisations. This work takes place within the framework of, for example, criminal investigations, directly or through Europol, the Schengen cooperation, Interpol or the Nordic police cooperation. Sweden is also, by an agreement of Entailment Act Observer Institution, one of the observer organizations of Ameripol.
Agreement of Entailment Act Observer Institution (pdf, 89 kB)
Strategic police cooperation
The police are also involved in international strategic police cooperation. Here, the police participate in and coordinate the work in various working groups and institutions primarily within the EU. The work creates improved conditions for the Member States' police organisations to jointly combat increasingly diversified and organised cross-border crime.
One initiative: Internal Criminal Investigations Network (ICIN)
Development cooperation
The police also participate in international development cooperation and support foreign police organisations in their efforts to become more democratic and effective. In the partner country, the Swedish Police help to create a police organisation that respects and protects human rights, follows the rules of a state governed by law, and which can be held accountable and prioritise the needs of the citizens. The cooperation also contributes to individual and organisational learning within the Swedish Police.
Peace Support Operations
A small part of the Swedish police service takes direct part in international peace efforts. Approximately 180 police officers serve in the United Nations peacekeeping or political missions, the European Union's military and civilian missions or the Organization for Security and Co-operation in Europe's field operations each year.
The police officers work according to missions' mandates and goals to ensure the respect for human rights and to support police reform. This can be done through mentoring and advising or capacity building of the local police.
The Police authority's participation in peace support operations and civilian crisis management is funded by special regulatory letters, as part of the Swedish Foreign Policy.
International Training Programme
The International Training Programme is implemented by the Swedish Police Authority and the Kvinna till Kvinna Foundation and is financed by Sida. The Programme "Prevent and respond to Gender Based Violence – strengthening agents of change" is open for applications until 31st of May 2019. It will take place during 2019-2020, including 3 weeks of training in Sweden and 2 weeks in another country. The aim of the programme is to develop the capacity of participating organisations/authorities and their personnel, to prevent and respond to Gender Based Violence.
To apply, please fill in the application and send to pso-idc@polisen.se, no later than 31st of May.
Broschure (pdf, 312 kB), Prevent Gender Based Violence
Application (pdf, 79 kB), Prevent Gender Based Violence