Print
A Close Protection Officer is a police officer tasked with protecting a particular person from direct physical attack or other offensive behaviour. The Security Service is the only police authority in Sweden to employ CPOs.
Close protection may be granted to members of the central Government or to others, following a special decision, on the condition that it has been deemed a suitable protection measure given the current threat assessment. Close protection may be temporary or permanent.
The number of CPOs has doubled since the assassination of Sweden's Foreign Minister Anna Lindh. In 2003, there were 65 CPOs employed by the Security Service. Today, we employ 130 CPOs.
Security Service CPOs:
The number of CPOs has doubled
The number of CPOs has doubled since the assassination of Sweden's Foreign Minister Anna Lindh. In 2003, there were 65 CPOs employed by the Security Service. Today, we employ 130 CPOs.
The Security Service also has access to a reserve force which may be used in times of heavy workload. This force is made up of former CPOs who have resumed their ordinary police duties and who have chosen to be part of the reserve. They are seconded to the Service for further training and testing at least once a year.
This increase in CPO numbers reflects changes in the Security Service's remit and working methods over the past few years.
Facts about our CPOs
Security Service CPOs:
- are trained police officers with at least four years' working experience, including time at the Police Academy;
- are temporarily employed with the Security Service while on leave of absence from their police authorities;
- are subjected to a number of tests in connection with recruitment procedures, such as intelligence tests, physical tests, swimming tests, driving tests, weapons tests, situation tests, personality tests and eye tests;
- have completed a ten-week course focusing on close protection duties;
- take further training on an annual basis; and
- are subjected to knowledge tests and physical tests on an annual basis.
| Säkerhetspolisen | P.O. Box 12312 | SE-102 28 Stockholm | Phone: +46 10 568 70 00 | Fax: +46 10 568 70 10 | E-mail: securityservice@securityservice.se | The Website |