National Task Force

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The National Task Force
National Task Force (Swedish: Nationella insatsstyrkan, NI), formerly known as the National Task Force
National Task Force of the Swedish Civilian Police (Swedish: Ordningspolisens nationella insatsstyrka), is a special operations unit within the National Operations Department of the Swedish Police Authority. It is meant to handle extraordinarily difficult or life-threatening criminal situations, such as terrorism, hostage situations, armed kidnapping or to serve high risk arrest warrants in cities too remote for the regional task forces in Stockholm, Gothenburg and Malmö. It also deals with emergency rescue situations that would be too dangerous or difficult for other police units or emergency services. The tasks performed between Piketen
Piketen and the NTF often blur since their duties are similar.[2]

Contents

1 History 2 Organization 3 Selection 4 Service 5 Armament 6 Heads 7 Similar units 8 See also 9 References 10 External links

History[edit] After the assassination of Prime Minister Olof Palme in 1986, two state commissions were appointed that looked over Sweden counter-terrorism capabilities. As a result, the government gave the task to the Swedish National Police Board to organize the "Standby Force Against Terrorism" (Beredskapsstyrkan mot terrorism) within the Stockholm County Police Authority in 1990.[3] The group was soon renamed Nationella insatsstyrkan and became also a resource for the whole of Sweden. The right to make decisions about when they were used was delegated by the government to the Swedish National Police Board.[3] After a parliamentary decision in 2002, Nationella insatsstyrkan was transferred from the Stockholm County Police Authority to the National Criminal Police (Rikskriminalpolisen). In connection with the reorganization of the police in 2015, Nationella insatsstyrkan was placed under the National Operations Department.[3] Organization[edit]

National Task Force
National Task Force during the 2017 Stockholm attack.

The NTF has one head of the unit 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:

Alpha Bravo Charlie Delta Echo Fox (snipers) Golf (snipers) Hotel (divers)

Selection[edit] To be eligible for service with the NTF, the applicant is required to have completed the two and a half year long police training, have a clean criminal record, and be able to pass a series of tests:

Physical stamina Marksmanship Non-predisposition for several types of phobias, such as fear of cramped spaces, heights or water Psychological fitness Deep interview Ten days in the field

Operators are recruited based on the units demands, and after the series of tests an average of 6-10% of the candidates succeed and progress to the 6 months of operator training. Service[edit] Members of the NTF work full-time in the force. They used to work two weeks and then have two weeks of regular police work, but as the need for them increased they changed it to full-time to cope with the demand and the need for more training. Part of their training is done with the Swedish Armed Forces. Most members have prior military service, and the National Task Force
National Task Force is described by some as a paramilitary unit within the Swedish police force. The NTF often train with the special forces unit of the Armed Forces, the Special
Special Operations Task Group. Armament[edit] The NTF have access to a wide variety of weapons including the MP5 submachine gun, assault rifles such as the G36 and the LWRC M6[4][5] as well as shotguns. In addition, all operators are equipped with the SIG Sauer
SIG Sauer P226 pistol as a sidearm, which is the standard sidearm used by all Swedish police officers. Snipers are equipped with the L96A1
L96A1 AW sniper rifle, HK417, and according to pictures taken during US President Barack Obama's visit to Stockholm in September 2013, the new Sako TRG
Sako TRG M10 Sniper
Sniper Weapon System in caliber .338 Lapua Magnum.[6] The special equipment of the NTF is significantly different from that of the ordinary police. Operators are equipped with different radios, vest and uniforms from American manufacturer Crye Precision as well as ballistic Ops Core helmets. They distinguish themselves from other Swedish police by the green uniforms worn while operating in uniform. Heads[edit]

????–2010 – Bertil Olofsson[7] 2010–2016 – Marie Jarnérus[7] 2017–present – Hampus Nygårds[1]

Similar units[edit]

Germany
Germany – GSG 9 France
France – RAID United States
United States – FBI Hostage Rescue Team Denmark
Denmark – AKS Norway
Norway – Emergency Response Unit United Kingdom
United Kingdom – SCO19