Background & Purpose
The Swedish government wants to improve how crimes are solved and ensure more offenders are brought to justice. This led to proposals for expanding the use of biometric information in investigations.
Proposals & Debate
The main proposal was to allow law enforcement to collect, register, and use biometric data more widely, replacing old police registers with new ones. It also suggested permitting comparisons of suspect data with the Swedish Migration Agency's records and allowing DNA-based family tree research for murder and aggravated rape cases. The Green Party and the Left Party voted against these proposals.
The Decision
The Swedish Parliament approved the government's proposals, meaning law enforcement agencies will get expanded powers to use biometrics in crime investigations. All counter-proposals from the opposition were rejected.
Does this affect you?
- Law enforcement agencies: Will have more tools and expanded databases to investigate crimes.
- Individuals suspected of serious crimes: Their biometric data, including facial images and fingerprints, may be compared against more registers.
- Victims of murder and aggravated rape: Investigations into their cases may benefit from new DNA-based family research methods.
- Swedish Migration Agency: Their registers of fingerprints and photographs will be accessible for comparisons in serious crime investigations.
In Practice
- Police can collect and use fingerprints, DNA, and facial images more often in investigations.
- New, more comprehensive biometric databases will replace older police registers.
- For serious crimes, police can compare suspects' facial images and fingerprints with the Swedish Migration Agency's records.
- DNA-based family tree research will be allowed for murder and aggravated rape cases to help identify suspects.