Over 5,000 policemen are members of the internal Facebook group UMF, which stands for underpaid, disgruntled and angry.
group was started by individual police officers in order to discuss the trade union and labor issues. But several threads have instead focused on direct personal attacks against public figures and their management.
journalist Elisabeth Höglund are mocked for their appearance and if the lawyer Kerstin Koorti, who criticized the police effort in Husby, where a 69-year-old man was shot to death, writes a member and wondering if she was “struck in the head an iron beam. “
– inserts are completely unacceptable. They are contrary to everything that the police should stand for. You should be able to trust that the police are nice, and this affects confidence in the police. I am ashamed when I see it here, says Police Federation chairman Lena Nitz told SvD.
Facebook group was started last winter in connection with the Police Association’s effort to get members involved in social media.
Two of the administrators of the group’s employees at the Police Federation. But Lena Nitz assures that the group is not driven by the association in any way.
Several of the union elected members – including Chairman Lena Nitz.
– I’ve been a member since inception, but I am not active. I have learned of various posts where other people have been in touch with me.
She says administrators in several posts pointed out that personal attacks are not welcome and that interventions must be factual. Now she demands that the offending posts are removed.
You have known about this a long time. Why did not you before?
– We have acted now. But I assume that I should have acted stronger and therefore I collect now together this group as soon as possible for a special meeting, Lena says Nitz.
Is there a sufficient measure to delete posts?
– No, it is not. But it is the most pressing. Since it is about long-term work.
National Police Commissioner Bengt Svenson may at times heavily criticized in the forum and called including “Clown Bengt”. Some criticism he accepts as the general manager, but he sees the behavior of some team members unworthy.
– We will have the opportunity to discuss the criticism of the police, and if it is built on its merits. But to go from there to using the values ??of those who criticize us, who tend to be insults, I do not understand and it is not worthy of adult humans, he says to SvD.
Police Union should have acted much earlier, highlighting Bengt Svenson, and will call covenant with them, to discuss the group.
– Generally occurs Swedish police in a good way. But it is very important to remove these things, it must be a self-examination and we must SIMPLIFY tone for otherwise seems we just like whiners.
SVT News talked to one of the policemen who started the Facebook group, Johan Svanestrand. He regrets not removed the worst postings.
– I regret that we did not take anything away. Now in retrospect, I realize that I should have handled it differently, says Johan Svanestrand to SVT.
SVT: How do you perceive yourself tone of the group?
– It’s mixed, but very many times. But some times really bad. The statements Expressen has produced is right horrible.
police spokesman Kjell Lindgren told SvD that police authorities do not stand for this kind of opinions.
– This is a private, closed discussion group. What is there is nothing that the Authority. It is clear that this affects us because it claims to work as police officers. But there is still nothing that we as government stands for, he says.
Justice Minister Beatrice Ask told TT that she was not aware of the Facebook page, but notes that it is said very stupid online.
– I think it is important to consider this with näthat and attitudes, and also that we should not let nonsense go unchallenged if you participate in any type of network, she says.
When asked what Ash like expressions used on different personalities, she answers:
– It’s pitiful when adults express themselves in a way arguably against someone else.
Ash emphasizes that it is important to remember that it is not the police who created and supported by the current Facebook group.
Viktor Adolphson, external command at Södermalm police and a member of the group, told the newspaper Nyheter24 that the group’s purpose is to serve as a forum for discussions among other union and insurance.
– It has been very good and I have had a great deal from the group. It’s just a shame that some can not refrain from writing crap, says Viktor Adolphson, and continues:
– Now it becomes labeled a moron group with lots of bad apples when the fact is that the masses are wise people who can express themselves in a constructive way.
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