“Most of all, it is an historic step for the subject of police studies in Sweden. It feels great,” says Ghazinour, a few days after receiving the news.

Almost ten years ago, Södertörn University became one of the five Swedish higher education institutions that are commissioned to conduct police education on behalf of the Swedish Police Authority. Alongside this, police research at the university has grown and is now an established field of research, with the subject of police studies being established to further boost research and, by extension, police education.

“Södertörn University is already at the forefront of police research thanks to the wide-ranging projects being conducted within police studies, our good partnership with the Police Authority and because we are increasing the number of researchers in the area. In addition, from the autumn semester of 2025, the university will be offering a one-year master’s programme in police studies,” he says, and continues, “Knowledge and experience of interdisciplinary research is integral to the university, with excellent research environments in the humanities and social sciences, which provides a solid foundation for good police research.”

What is police studies?

Police studies is more than simply knowing about how the police do their work. Instead, Ghazinour describes it as knowledge about how we combat organised crime through cooperation: police, public authorities, civil society and the business sector.

“Police work is one aspect of police studies as a subject, which has three pillars: education, research and practice. The meeting between these three can provide synergies, and there are many opportunities for this at Södertörn. It is important that education is founded upon research-based knowledge, but the experience of police officers and our teachers is equally important,” he says.

Long experience of police research

Ghazinour is already a professor of social work, and has a background as a social worker and psychotherapist. For many years, his research has focused on police officers’ health, stress and work in deprived areas, and he has led numerous national and international research projects. In 2001, Umeå University’s police education commissioned him to create courses that would teach students how to approach people with serious psychiatric conditions. He came to Södertörn University as a visiting professor in 2021 and has been head of the School of Police Studies since 2023.

Words that he often returns to when he talks about police research and education are interpersonal meetings, cooperation and shared knowledge – not least the meetings with students and doctoral students.

“I believe in meetings between people, that teachers, students and doctoral students can also help me develop as a senior researcher, through discussions and conversations. Police studies in Sweden is still a young field, and we should discuss how the subject will be defined and developed,” says Ghazinour.