So far this year, 13 public gatherings have been held in the Stockholm police region where the organizer stated that something should be burned. In total, it has cost the Stockholm police nearly five million kroner to monitor the gatherings, according to Helena Boström Thomas, press spokesperson for the Stockholm police region.
– All gatherings where we have had Koran burning this year, 13 of them, have cost a total of just over SEK 4.7 million, she says.
2.4 million in additional costs
Of the total cost of SEK 4.7 million, just over half, SEK 2.4 million, is so-called additional cost. It is the cost in addition to, for example, regular salaries for the police officers.
– It can be things like food for the staff and travel costs, but mainly it concerns overtime costs for the police officers who worked, says Helena Boström Thomas.
1-2 million for a football derby
The total cost of 4.7 million corresponds to approximately SEK 360,000 of taxpayers’ money for each Koran burning this year. That figure can be compared to the total cost of covering a football derby, according to Helena Boström Thomas.
– A football derby costs between one and two million kroner approximately, she says.
Included in the police mission
According to the Police, the expenditure does not mean that money is drawn from another part of their business. On the contrary, it is something that is included in the authority’s financial planning.
– It is clear that it is a cost, but at the same time it is the police’s job to look after public gatherings and that is taken into account when making a budget, says Helena Boström Thomas.