The authority for community protection and preparedness reports today two government assignments that will strengthen the role of the municipal rescue service within civil defense. The workforce within the rescue service for height preparedness is to be doubled to 32,000 women and men within ten years.
– In order to be prepared for a situation with high preparedness and to be able to handle the stresses that an armed attack on Sweden could entail, we see that the current workforce of around 16,000 full- and part-time employees in municipal rescue services needs to be doubled, says Henrik Larsson , head of the unit for rescue services in the event of major accidents at MSB.
Doubling of staff
The doubling of the workforce is partly intended to take place through a re-introduced civil service, a measure the government presented in January.
In addition to that, the municipal emergency services must, among other things, receive training and practice so that in 2033 they have the ability to handle unexploded ammunition and clean up for protection against chemical warfare agents and nuclear weapons. The rescue service must also be trained to be able to act independently at all management levels in the event of disturbed conditions.
– If the proposals in these two mission reports are given the opportunity to be implemented, it will be a big and important step taken in the ongoing development of Sweden’s civil defense and a direct contribution to a stronger total defense, says Henrik Larsson at MSB.