Sweden, Crime | The police in Sweden can use visitation zones against gang violence

Swedish police are given the authority to use so-called visitation zones in the fight against gang violence. In the zones, they can search people and cars without any concrete suspicion.

The law on safety zones comes into force on Thursday. Based on it, the police can establish temporary security zones, also known as visitation zones, under certain conditions. There must be a “significant” risk of violent conflict between criminal networks, and the zone must be considered particularly important in order to prevent such conflict.

– These are strong legal terms. In other words, not something that will be decided easily and everywhere, says Commissioner Kristian Malzoff at the development unit of the police’s national operational department.

A decision on a safety zone will be valid for two weeks, but can be extended. In the zone, children, adults and vehicles can be searched without there being any concrete suspicion of an offence. Malzoff says he feels confident that most people traveling in these places will still not be stopped and checked.

While the police believe that the zones can contribute to increased security in areas prone to violence, critics fear that the new law may be counterproductive. They are afraid that it may become arbitrary who is stopped, and that this may lead to increased distrust of the police where the zones are used.

In addition, the police’s measures are not covered by the Discrimination Act, so those who feel discriminated against during a search have no right of appeal. The discrimination ombudsman believes the police should also fall under the law.

The human rights group Civil Rights Defenders believes that the exception is unacceptable and that the law should be changed as soon as possible.

(© NTB)