The Government is presenting a new legislative proposal on how law enforcement agencies can obtain more information from other authorities.
Municipalities, regions, schools, and several state authorities will be required to provide information both on their own initiative and upon request to, for example, the police, the Tax Agency, and the Security Service.
According to Minister of Justice Gunnar Strömmer (The Moderate Party), it is in the public interest to make such comprehensive changes to the legislation on public access to information and secrecy.
This is motivated not least by organized crime and its system-threatening character, he says at a press conference.
To Prevent Crime
Furthermore, all authorities (except the FRA) will be required to provide a person's contact information if a law enforcement agency requests it, according to the Government.
The purpose is to help the police prevent and combat crime.
We want to see a shift where the main rule becomes sharing information and not withholding information, says Strömmer, and continues:
Information held by one authority can be crucial for another authority to fulfill its mission in an effective and legally secure manner.
Social services and healthcare will not be required to provide information, except for contact information. However, they are proposed to share more information than today.
We are lowering the thresholds for disclosure and simplifying the existing regulatory framework, says Strömmer.
Among other things, information about violence in close relationships will be able to be disclosed in more cases, according to Strömmer.
Stop Young People?
The fact that social services and healthcare will not be required to provide information may affect, for example, the police's ability to stop young people from becoming criminals.
However, the Government believes that special consideration must be given to these activities, so as not to damage trust.
But the direction is very clear, that we are now removing obstacles even in these relationships, so that these actors can, in practice, sit down at the same table and share information, taking into account the special activities conducted there, says Strömmer.
The legislative proposals will now be sent to the Council on Legislation for review. They are proposed to enter into force on January 1 next year.
Increased information exchange between authorities and law enforcement agencies is part of the Government's strategy against crime.
According to the legislative proposal, authorities, regions, municipalities, and schools will be required to provide information to law enforcement agencies.
By law enforcement agencies, the following are meant: the Economic Crime Authority, the Coast Guard, the Police Authority, the Tax Agency, the Security Service, the Customs Authority, and the Prosecution Authority.
The Government is also proposing that banks and financial companies be required to provide information about individuals if the police request it. This should happen if the information is needed to prevent, prevent, or detect crime.
