The pressure on passports increased - then the passport station in Hultsfred closed

The decision to close down the passport station in Hultsfred was made as early as 2021 by the management in the Police Region South.

The population base in Hultsfred is too low for its own passport station and times were unbooked, was the motivation.

The post was needed better elsewhere in the police region.

But then the corona restrictions were abolished in February and with it a record pressure to renew their passports - even in sparsely populated Kalmar counties.

Despite the fact that the police today extended the opening hours for passport booking in Kalmar, Oskarshamn and Västervik, there is still a seven-month waiting period before you can get a passport time in the county.

The first free time is in November.

Counted with "plug"

That there would be a "plug" after the pandemic was something that the police had expected, says local police area chief Anders Pleijel.

Nevertheless, they chose to close down the station in Hultsfred.

Does not the decision feel illogical then, given that you knew it would be like this?

- You never know when the pandemic will release.

This is a strategic decision that is several years ahead, so no I do not think so.

Moved to Skåne

The passport post in Hultsfred could offer an average of 165 passport times a week.

Times that will now instead end up in Skåne.

- There are two places that are fighting for the pole, Ängelholm and Malmö, says Anders Pleijel.

But could it not have been moved to Kalmar instead?

- Kalmar also does not have enough population data and we have a room that can not receive more passport stations.

In addition, 40 percent of those who book passports come from outside.

Then I think it's better to move the pole somewhere where people live, so they do not have to go here.

Before double shift

A national initiative is underway within the police to graze the huge passport queues.

From May, double shifts will be introduced at all police stations that have passport production - something that according to the police will double the number of available times.

- We do everything we can to reduce the passport booking queues and people will probably discover that eventually, says Anders Pleijel.