Proposal for Armed Municipal Security Guards in Sweden Sparks Debate
Moderaterna proposes armed municipal security guards to enhance public safety and support police.
Key Points
- • Moderaterna proposes a new profession of municipal security guards who can carry firearms.
- • The aim is to relieve police and enhance public safety.
- • Concerns have been raised about the effectiveness and value of this proposal.
- • Guards would be employed by municipalities, not private companies.
On June 18, 2025, the Swedish Moderaterna party put forth a proposal to create a new profession of municipal security guards authorized to carry firearms, aiming to bolster public safety and support police forces. The initiative, detailed by Göteborgs-Posten, is part of a larger discourse on police resource allocation amidst rising concerns about safety in communities.
The proposed armed guards would be directly employed by municipalities rather than private companies, which supporters argue will enhance oversight and accountability. Riksdagsledamot Fredrik Kärrholm emphasized that the intention behind this initiative is to relieve pressure on the police, enabling them to focus on serious crime while municipal guards handle smaller disturbances.
Despite these intentions, the proposal has been met with skepticism from various quarters, including police chief Erik Nord, who questioned the potential effectiveness of adding armed guards to the security landscape. Nord pointed out concerns about whether taxpayers would genuinely benefit from this arrangement, reflecting broader doubts regarding the necessity and effectiveness of the new guards in a varied and complex security environment.
This debate unfolds in a context of increasing pressures on Sweden's safety frameworks, highlighted by the government’s recent decision to rent approximately 600 prison spaces in Estonia to alleviate overcrowding in Swedish correctional facilities. Justice Minister Gunnar Strömmer acknowledged the strategic benefits of this collaboration given the strong ties between the two nations, illustrating the ongoing challenges within Sweden's justice system.
As the proposal moves forward, its potential implementation hinges on approval from the Polismyndigheten regarding regulations surrounding firearm possession by municipal guards. The Moderaterna party aims for this change to occur by the start of the next parliamentary term, suggesting an urgent push within political circles to address public safety concerns.