Criticism of the Swedish Police Authority for poor documentation of measures taken at border control

Summary of the decision: Summary of the decision: When conducting border checks of two third-country nationals at Stockholm Arlanda Airport, the Swedish Police Authority interviewed each traveller without an interpreter. Other interviews and subsequent service of decisions where however conducted with an interpreter. When inspecting the travellers’ baggage, police officers also checked the content of their mobile telephones in the form of installed apps and screenshots.

The Parliamentary Ombudsman notes that the Swedish Police Authority failed to document either the reason that no interpreter was present at certain interviews or any details concerning the inspection of the travellers’ mobile telephones, and is critical of this.

The Parliamentary Ombudsman states that if, on any occasion, the Swedish Police Authority assesses that no interpreter is required when conducting interviews at border control even though the interviewee does not speak Swedish, this assessment should be documented.

The Parliamentary Ombudsman also expresses doubt as to whether there were legal grounds on which to search the travellers’ mobile telephones, although he notes that it is difficult to make any more detailed statements on this matter due to the lack of documentation.