Criticism of the Swedish Police Authority for conducting a preliminary investigation into a crime against property so slowly that the statute of limitations expired

Summary of the decision: In a preliminary investigation into offences including fraud, the Swedish Police Authority took virtually no investigative measures whatsoever for four years. The preliminary investigation was subsequently closed with reference to the statute of limitations. The Preliminary Ombudsman notes that such passive processing is unacceptable and in contravention of the requirement of the Code of Judicial Procedure (SFS 1942:740) that preliminary investigations be conducted as expeditiously as possible. The Parliamentary Ombudsman takes a grave view of the facts that have emerged and criticises the Swedish Police Authority.

The Parliamentary Ombudsman has directed criticism at the Swedish Police Authority on several occasions over recent years for slow processing of preliminary investigations into fraud and other types of crimes against property. In the Parliamentary Ombudsman’s opinion, shortcomings of this kind in the Swedish Police Authority’s investigative operations risk seriously damaging public confidence in the authority. The Parliamentary Ombudsman emphasises that it is critical that the Swedish Police Authority continues its work to reduce processing times for investigations into crimes against property.