There is no chance for police to work long-term and preventively today, she says.
55 percent of the Police Union's members choose to answer "greater efforts from the rest of society in preventive work" to the question of what is most important to stay in the police profession. This is shown by the latest survey conducted by Novus on behalf of the Police Union.
Social services, schools, parents, and politicians must all make greater efforts to help in the work against gang crime, according to the survey.
The actors want to be involved and turn the trend, but they need more resources. It will cost initially, and it must be allowed to cost, she says and continues:
Organized crime takes enormous resources, and then there must be other actors working preventively.
Criticism of politicians
The Police Union is critical of Swedish politicians and believes that they have done too little over the years to prevent gang crime.
We need to see cross-party agreements, just like Denmark did in 2009. Now they don't have the same situation as in Sweden when it comes to gang crime.
In Sweden, the work against crime cannot depend on who governs the country and our municipalities, according to von Sydow. Crime policy must span many years and what is agreed upon must be upheld.
The benefits will not come immediately, but we know they will come in the form of increased security and better conditions for children and adults.
Loyal employees
Despite many professional police officers stating that higher salaries and greater societal efforts are necessary for them to stay in the profession, Katharina von Sydow is not worried about mass resignations within the police.
Our members are loyal and dedicated people. There is an inherent desire to protect and help people, she says.
The Police Union, which has conducted interviews with 1,043 professional police officers. Here are the most important questions according to the respondents.
What is most important for you to stay in the police profession?
* Higher salary – 75 percent
* Greater efforts from the rest of society in preventive work – 55 percent
* More efficient organization – 52 percent
* More police officers – 51 percent
* Greater efforts from the rest of society in repressive work – 45 percent
Which other actors, apart from the judiciary, need to do more to combat organized crime?
* Social services – 78 percent
* Parents – 72 percent
* Politicians – 69 percent
* Schools – 69 percent
* Religious communities – 40 percent
Source: The Police Union
Corrected: In an earlier version of the fact box, an incorrect source reference was included.
