DO wants to be able to review the police for ethnic discrimination

The Equality Ombudsman (DO) wants the law to be changed so that the agency can investigate complaints of ethnic discrimination within the police’s law enforcement activities. Civil Rights Defenders welcomes the initiative and argues that the police’s expanded powers make the issue of independent scrutiny increasingly important.

Currently, the police’s law enforcement activities are not covered by the supervision system of the Discrimination Act. This means that individuals who believe they have been subjected to, for example, ethnic profiling by the police cannot have the matter examined by DO in the same way as in many other areas of society.

The issue has come to the fore after the police’s powers to stop and check individuals were expanded. Since 2024, the police have been able to carry out so-called security zones, in which individuals may be checked without being suspected of a crime. The aim has included preventing and complicating gang crime.

At the same time, DO has received complaints from people who feel they were stopped and checked because of their ethnic background. DO’s director, Lars Arrhenius, told Swedish Radio that the current legislation limits the agency’s ability to review police conduct.

For several years, DO has tried to get both the current and previous governments to change the rules. Minister for Gender Equality, Nina Larsson (L), said according to Swedish Radio that the government shares the view that the issue is important and is working to develop a proposal.

“Welcome news”

Civil Rights Defenders has long pushed for the same demand and has included the issue in the organization’s 25 reform proposals to strengthen the rule of law. The organization points out that the police’s increased powers require greater possibilities for oversight and accountability.

– It is welcome news that DO continues to advocate this issue. If people feel they are subjected to ethnic profiling or discrimination by the police, there must be opportunities for independent review and redress, says Civil Rights Defenders’ chief legal officer John Stauffer.

At the same time, the issue is part of a larger initiative against ethnic discrimination within Swedish government agencies. The government has tasked DO with supporting agencies in identifying and addressing risks of ethnic discrimination. The assignment includes, among other things, cooperation with the Police Authority.