A recurring method used by criminal gangs to gain access to classified or secret information is to engage in sexual relations with female police officers.
Since 2018, there have been at least 513 reports of suspected leaks, and about 30 police officers have been fired or resigned after being identified as security risks.
An investigation by Dagens Nyheter, owned by Bonnier, shows that in at least 14 cases police officers have passed secret information directly to criminal gangs – and that the leaks coincided with several attacks in which people were injured or killed.
– This is dangerous for democracy. People risk losing faith in society, Martin Valfridsson, head of special investigations at the police, told the newspaper.
Justice Minister Gunnar Strömmer of the Moderate Party says he will soon meet with police leaders to discuss the revelation and “consider the need for further action”.
– This is very serious information. Leaking sensitive information to criminals is criminal and can have very damaging consequences for police work. Ultimately, it risks undermining confidence in the justice system and damaging democracy.
Damage to public confidence
National Police Commissioner Petra Lundh tells the Bonnier newspaper Expressen that she “understands that it is detrimental to public confidence” when police officers have romantic relationships with serious criminals.
However, she points out that all positions are already classified and that information and discussions are held to prevent similar incidents.
– We also have mandatory training in security protection and we run information campaigns. Hopefully, this means that people will report any deviant behavior either to their manager or to the security department, both if they see a colleague engaging in deviant behavior or if they themselves are contacted by someone.
At the same time, she says, “we’ve probably been pretty naive historically” and that more work is needed.
Several police officers who were forced out after being found to have relationships or inappropriate contacts with criminal actors have since found jobs in other Swedish agencies.
