More protective spaces to give stronger protection in the event of heightened alert

The Government wants to enhance protection of the civilian population in the event of heightened alert. The Riksdag voted in favour of the Government's proposal on a new law on protective shelters and protective spaces. 

There are currently some 64,000 protective shelters with room for 7 million individuals in Sweden. However, this is not enough to provide adequate protection for the population. The Government now wants to ensure that Sweden has a modern protection for the civilian population in the event of heightened alert or an armed attack.

The Government has therefore proposed a new law on protective shelters and protective spaces. The new law means, among other things, that provisions will be introduced on a new protection option in addition to the existing protective shelters - in the form of protective spaces. A protective space is an area designated for protection of the civilian population that provides limited protection in relation to a protective shelter. 

The amendments will come into force on 1 June 2026.

Committee report (In Swedish):

Ett starkare skydd för civilbefolkningen vid höjd beredskap (FöU12)