In order to combat serious crime, the police have in recent years initiated several so-called special events. This means that resources can be drawn from police areas around the country for the efforts, which can be both unforeseen or planned.
But there are major shortcomings in the police's work with special events, the NAO states. Among other things, the police authority cannot account for how many special events the police have carried out, how long they have lasted, how many years of labor involved or the additional costs of the efforts.
"All in all, this means that it is not possible to measure whether the special events have had any effect," says Linda Jönsson.
Special events can make it more difficult
Special events can be an effective way to lead work in the first hours or days after a serious crime is committed. But long-term special events do more harm than good, especially for the local police areas that must contribute resources to the efforts, according to the National Audit Office.
"Among other things, they must cancel crime prevention activities, which, for example, complicates the work against new recruitment to criminal gangs.
Don't feel involved
Local police area chiefs say they are not conducting impact assessments of how their operations are affected by resources being sent to a particular event. They also do not feel involved in the decisions even though they have the best idea of what problems and needs exist in their local police area.
The ability needs to be available locally to be able to handle this problem. Long-term special events are not the solution to the problem of serious crime," says Linda Jönsson.