Nationella insatsstyrkan
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Nationella insatsstyrkan (NI), originally known as the Ordningspolisens Nationella Insatsstyrka, is a national SWAT unit within the RKP, the Criminal Investigations Department of the Swedish National Police. It is meant to handle extraordinarily difficult or life-threatening criminal situations, such as terrorism, hostage situations, and kidnapping. It also deals with emergency rescue situations that would be too dangerous for other teams to handle.
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[edit] Organisation
NI has one head of the unit (currently Bertil Olofsson) with a number of subordinated coordinators, and a staff of older, distinguished police officers. Under this management group the force is divided into 8 groups:
[edit] Selection
To be eligible for NI, the applicant is required to have five years of experience within the police force (of which at least 2 years in active duty), a clean criminal record, and be able to pass a series of tests:
- Physical stamina
- Marksmanship
- Predispositions for several types of phobias, such as fear of cramped spaces, heights or water
- Psychological fitness
- Deep interview
- 10 days in field
[edit] Service
The length of service is typically between six and eight years at most. It consists of a rotating schedule of two consecutive weeks of training followed by two consecutive weeks of ordinary police service. Part of their training is done with the armed forces. Several of the members are former members of elite military units, and the Nationella Insatsstyrkan is described by some as a military unit within the Swedish police force.
[edit] Armament
NI has access to a wide variety of weapons including submachine guns (MP5), assault rifles (AK5 & G36), and shotguns. In addition, operators have often been seen armed with Sig Sauer pistols. Snipers are equipped with the L96A1 AW sniper rifle (Swedish military designation: PSG90). The special equipment or the Nationella Insatsstyrkan is significantly different from that of the ordinary police. Their equipment, such as communication radios suitable for diving and special ceramic bullet resistant vests, is specific to the situations they would be called upon for.
