Audit condemns police and customs work against illegal firearms

Riksrevisionen has sharply criticised the Swedish Police Authority and Swedish Customs for shortcomings in their efforts against illegal firearms, SVT reports. The review says unclear strategy, poor communication and inadequate follow-up are limiting the agencies’ work.

The authorities also lack effective IT systems for searching, compiling and analysing relevant information. As a result, qualified staff must spend substantial time on manual work, reducing the time available for intelligence work and analysis, project manager Sara Kramers said.

Riksrevisionen said the Police Authority needs to improve its follow-up of where, when and how firearms are detected. The review also found shortcomings in communication between the two authorities and in follow-up of firearms seizures.

The National Firearms Centre, a unit within the Police Authority established in 2023 to help trace and stop illegal firearms, lacks basic conditions needed to operate effectively. It does not have staff working there full-time or a manager with the authority to lead its work.

As a result, there is no clear strategy or plan for how the centre should operate, Kramers said.

Riksrevisionen said the high level of violence has contributed to the Police Authority working reactively and in response to individual incidents. This has limited its ability to work preventively against the smuggling and distribution of illegal firearms.