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Digital media, especially social media, enable the police to get closer to the citizen to maintain or create safety. Today, the Swedish Police Authority has 264 verified digital media accounts on social media like Facebook, Instagram, Twitter, YouTube, as well as 4 podcasts. However, in the Swedish basic training program for police officers (offered at five universities) there is little or no training in how the police should use and communicate on digital media. 

The purpose of the study was to analyze how Swedish police students talk about and reflect on the Swedish Police Authority's use of digital media and how it can be used to Create the Sense of Safety in society. Creating the Sense of Safety is our translation of [Trygghetsskapande], which is a Swedish governmental term that e.g., the Swedish Police Authority use as a “tool” in their work. 

This qualitative study builds on eight digital extensive semi-structured interviews with police students from Umeå University and Södertörn University. 

The preliminary research findings in this study show; 1) the reason why the Swedish Police Authority needs to use social media and police students’ choice of social media platforms; 2) how police students reflect on social media and in what ways it can be beneficial in their work-life; 3) if and how the popular Swedish police tv series “Tunna blå linjen” has affected their view of their police training and their future role as a police officer; 4) the police students’ view on what kind of social media content that communicates a sense of safety for the public. Together these results provide important insights into police students’ perspective on Creating the Sense of Safety, digital media, and how they are interconnected. More in-depth results will be presented at the conference.