Support for civil defence
Civil defence covers the capability of the whole of society to protect the population and maintain important societal functions when there is a threat of war and during war. The Coast Guard is part of the civil defence system. Through its presence at sea, rescue services and maritime surveillance, it contributes to Sweden's overall resilience.
Civil defence in Sweden is the combined resilience and preparations of the whole of society. Its purpose is to protect the civilian population and to maintain essential societal functions, such as firefighting and transport, when there is a threat of war or during war. When there is a threat of war and during war, civil defence must also be able to support the Swedish Armed Forces.
Sweden's goals for civil defence are set by the Government. It states that our country must be able to:
- safeguard the most important societal functions
- within the framework of NATO's collective defence and its other tasks, contribute to the capability of the military defence
- protect the civilian population
- maintain the will to defend and society's resilience against external pressure.
The role of the Coast Guard in civil defence
The Swedish Coast Guard helps to strengthen civil defence. It does this mainly through its constant presence at sea and the many areas of responsibility in its regular work in rescue services and maritime surveillance. The Coast Guard is part of two preparedness sectors: Public order and security, which is led by the Swedish Police Authority, and Civil Protection, which is led by the Swedish Civil Defence and Resilience Agency. We also take part in the Transport sector, which is led by the Swedish Transport Administration. In these sectors, the Coast Guard takes part in planning, exercises and various forums, for example on communication and legal matters.
Read more about how the Coast Guard contributes in the different preparedness sectors.
The work in the preparedness sector Civil protection is led by the Swedish Civil Defence and Resilience Agency. Its aim is to develop and secure the ability to carry out rescue operations and protect the civilian population across the whole threat spectrum. The first priority is to ensure that people survive. The second is to limit damage to property and the environment. Besides the Swedish Civil Defence and Resilience Agency and the Coast Guard, this sector includes the county administrative boards, the Swedish Police Authority, the Swedish Maritime Administration, The Swedish Meteorological and Hydrological Institute, SOS, the Swedish Association of Local Authorities and Regions and the Swedish Radiation Safety Authority. Stockholm Fire Brigade takes part as a co-opted participant.
The joint work in the preparedness sector Public order and security is led by the Swedish Police Authority. Its aim is to strengthen the ability of the authorities to prevent and handle crises and war. The work in the sector must help to protect Sweden's population and maintain law and order and safety in society. The chain of justice must work whether Sweden is at peace, in crisis or at war, and the population must feel confident that the rule of law works. Besides the Coast Guard and the Swedish Police Authority, this preparedness sector includes Swedish Customs, the Swedish Security Service, the Swedish Prosecution Authority, the Swedish National Courts Administration and the Swedish Prison and Probation Service.
The Swedish Transport Administration leads the preparedness sector Transport. The Coast Guard also takes an active part in forums between authorities and business, with a natural focus on maritime transport. The authorities that are part of the preparedness sector under the ordinance are the Swedish Transport Administration, the Swedish Transport Agency, Air Navigation Services of Sweden and the Swedish Maritime Administration.
We also take part in a subgroup of the forum above. It consists of representatives of the authorities concerned (the Swedish Transport Agency, the Swedish Transport Administration, the Swedish Maritime Administration, the Swedish Armed Forces, the Coast Guard, the Police Authority, Swedish Customs and private industry (shipping companies and ports, Swedish shipping) in a forum called the Maritime Safety Committee.
The Coast Guard is therefore part of the work between private industry and the responsible transport authorities for maritime transport in the Transport sector.
