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Dan Eliasson said in the report violent crimes had increased in 2016

Dan Eliasson said he was pleased with the police force’s efforts, despite saying it had been a tough year as officials are struggling to maintain rule of law in more than 50 vulnerable areas. In the report, which was given to Sweden’s government on Wednesday, the police chief said the number of violent crime cases filed had increased by 3.5 percent during the year. The rise was said to include crimes such as assaults, threats, attacks on officials, in addition to a rise in murder, attempted murder and sexual offences. Despite the increase, Mr Eliasson hailed the Swedish police as he said they had done a fantastic job, while hinting more money was needed to strengthen the force.


He said: “When I sum up the past year, I can, as usual, say that police staff have done a fantastic job.” The report showed the force had entered 2017 with a surplus in the budget, despite politicians demanding that Prime Minister Stefan Löfven invested more in the hard pressed office. The police chief also said the force no achieved its overall target to solve more crimes. “In 2016, investigations have decreased compared to 2015,” Mr Eliasson said. “The number of cases reported to the public prosecutor has also been reduced.”


In January, Mr Eliasson said: “We need to reinforce ourselves in the long term. We need to increase our efficiency internally. We should not save money, but become more efficient. “In addition, we well need more money from the parliament and the government in the long term.” Earlier this month, Mr Löfven was criticised in Parliament by the Sweden Democrats (SD) and Moderate Party (MP) for not enabling the police to crack down on those wreaking havoc. MP leader Anna Kinberg Batra demanded the billion pound investment should be included in the spring budget - adding that anything else was just empty promises.

Shocking images depict violence in Sweden IBL/REX/Shutterstock PATRIK HANSEN REUTERS REUTERS IBL/REX/Shutterstock IBL/REX/Shutterstock IBL/REX/Shutterstock IBL/REX/Shutterstock IBL/REX/Shutterstock REUTERS REUTERS Getty Images NC RT AFP/Getty Images

Mattias Karlsson SD took an even harsher approach to the continued problems within the country as he also insisted Mr Eliassons should step down from the top role. He said: “Right now we have a police commissioner who expresses greater sympathy with murderers than with the murder victim. “So I wonder: how bad results does a Social Democratic police commissioner have to deliver to lose an SD-Government’s confidence?” Mr Eliassons sparked widespread fury last year after he went on national television and expressed sympathy for a migrant who murdered asylum worker Alexandra Mezher.

GETTY Stefan Löfven has been heavily criticised in Sweden as police struggle to maintain control

The situation in Sweden came under a global spotlight on Saturday as US President Donald Trump suggested to a Florida rally the Scandinavian country was in chaos because of its liberal refugee policy. He said: "You look at what's happening in Germany, you look at what's happening last night in Sweden. "Sweden, who would believe this? Sweden. They took in large numbers. They're having problems like they never thought possible.” The Swedish PM did not take kindly to President Trump’s words as he suggested during a joint press conference in Stockholm with visiting Canadian Governor General David Johnston, it was ‘fake news’.