Swedish Police abolish helmet identification requirement

The Swedish Police Authority has abolished the requirement for officers to have identification numbers marked on their helmets. The regulation, which was introduced in 2001 following a demonstration in Malmö where officers faced accusations of excessive force, was deemed outdated because officers now utilize various types of helmets.

Under the new decision by Deputy National Police Chief Stefan Hector, effective September 1, identification will instead be managed through name tags or individual call signs on clothing. This ensures that if an officer must conceal their face during planned activities, they can still be identified through other means, such as textile nameplates on the chest, as outlined in general uniform regulations.