Failure for the Police's Diversity Plan

Two years ago, the Swedish Police Authority set a goal to double the proportion of immigrants in its training programs. It is now clear that the goal has not even come close to being achieved.

“Increased diversity and equality are fundamental conditions for the Police Authority to continue growing and fulfill its core mission in an increasingly multifaceted society,” stated the action plan adopted in May 2024.

The figures at the time, from 2023, showed that nine percent of those admitted to the training had a foreign background, and 36 percent were women. The aim was to increase these proportions to 18 and 40 percent, respectively, over a two-year period.

For the spring term of 2026, it has now been revealed that while the goal for the proportion of women was reached, the proportion of immigrants remains at the same level — nine percent.

Anders Henckel, group manager at the police education unit, is not surprised.

– We set a very ambitious goal that we did not reach. If you look at other Nordic countries, they have the same challenge in getting people with a foreign background to both apply and pass the admission tests, he said to Polistidningen.

To attract more immigrants to apply, a special information meeting was held in Stockholm for people with a foreign background, and campaigns were conducted in various languages.

Lowered Requirements

According to Henckel, the important thing is not the number of applicants but how many of them are qualified. In the group with a foreign background, some are excluded because they are not Swedish citizens and quite a few lack the necessary educational qualifications. Immigrants also perform worse on the tests in the police admissions process, something that is also seen in military enlistment.

Previously, some requirements were lowered to bring in more immigrants and women — last year a new aptitude test was introduced in the police admission process, designed so as not to disadvantage people with foreign backgrounds.

– For instance, the verbal section has been updated with more modern language, and our hope is that more with foreign backgrounds will pass. In June, statistics will be released to answer this.