SWEDEN ON EDGE: Now MPs DEMAND billion pound investment into police amid growing crisis

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Right-wing politicians tore into Stefan Löfven earlier this week as they said more recourse and police were needed now as officers are losing the uphill battle secure law and order across

the nation. 

The Sweden Democrats (SD) and Moderate Party (MP) also lambasted the Swedish PM for the crisis within the police force. 

Hitting back at the criticisms, Mr Löfven said his Government wanted to invest more money into the police as well grant recourses to combat the causes of crime. 

Dissatisfied with the reply, MP leader Anna Kinberg Batra demanded the billion pound investment should be included in the spring budget - adding that anything else was just empty promises. 

Mattias Karlsson SD took an even harsher approach to the continued problems within the country, which as been plagued with violent crimes, sex attacks and car fires, as he also insisted

Police Commissioner Dan Eliassons should step down from the top role. 

He said: “Right now we have a police commissioner who expresses greater sympathy with murderers than with the murder victim. 

“So I wonder: how bad results does a Social Democratic police commissioner have to deliver to lose an SD-Government’s confidence?”

Mr Eliassons sparked widespread fury last year after he went on national television and expressed sympathy for a migrant who murdered asylum worker Alexandra Mezher. 

After the 22-year-old’s horrific death, the head of the Swedish police force said the arrested youth may have been traumatised by "horrors" he has witnessed.

A number of people demanded the police chief’s resignation after the TV appearance, including Kent Ekeroth, a member of parliament for the anti-immigrant Sweden Democrats, who tweeted: "This

is where Dan Eliasson feels sorry for the guy who knife murdered the woman at the asylum home - resign!"

Police inspector Anders Karlsson slammed Mr Eliassos for his behaviour in an open letter to the public. 

He wrote: “Police Commissioner Dan Eliasson went on the STV morning show on January 26 and could in an honest fashion have apologised for the unimaginable sorrow friends and family of

Alexandra Mezher, who was killed at a refugee centre, are going through.

“Instead Eliasson decided to give a long and speculative monolog where he diminished the suspected murder’s actions. 

Finishing off the letter, where he also apologised to the people on behalf of the commissioner, he said: “Finally, a call to you, Dan Eliasson. Resign from your position as national police

chief. You have nothing to bring to the Swedish police more than complete chaos and total police frustration.”

Despite the calls for his resignation as the Swedish police force faces an existential crisis, with an average of three officers handing in their notice last year, Mr Eliassons has been

allowed to remain in his role. 

Hitting back at the thundering accusation the government was unwilling to take the necessary action, Mr Löfven insisted the commissioner was independent of party politics. 

However, he added: “Yes, better results of the police are required. We all agree on that.” 

In February 2016, the National Criminal Investigation Service was forced to admit more than 50 areas in were now labelled as “no-go zones” as sex crimes, attacks on police, drug dealing and

children carrying weapons were common occurrences. 

Malmo, Sweden’s third-largest city, has been so hard hit by crime and car fires, the Social Democrats demanded soldiers should be sent in to reestablish law and order.

Speaking to Expressen, Mr Olsson also said there was a great lack of police officers in Sweden, which means officers could benefit from the armed forces’ resources. 

He said: “There is a great lack of police officers in Sweden and Malmö. For this reason, it is perhaps time to let the military and police to stand together to reestablish order in the

country.”

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