Swedish Police Union congress re-elects chair, targets suicide reporting

The Swedish Police Union (Polisförbundet) has concluded its 2026 congress, where delegates voted on numerous motions aimed at improving working conditions. Katharina von Sydow was unanimously re-elected as the union's chairperson for a four-year term.

A significant outcome of the congress was the unanimous approval of a motion to demand that all cases of suicide and attempted suicide within the police force be reported as occupational injuries. Proposed by Örjan Åkesson, the motion seeks to ensure that the Swedish Police Authority investigates potential links between work and suicide in every instance.

Proponents argue that current practices often attribute such incidents to private reasons, potentially allowing the employer to avoid responsibilities under the Work Environment Act. Formal registration as occupational injuries would provide necessary statistics to help prevent future occurrences and ensure families receive appropriate support and benefits if a death is deemed work-related.