Country

Sweden

Detention issue

Protection against violence

FRA research findings

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Legal instruments & key provisions

Legal instrument Key provision
Prison and Probation Services, Prison and Probation Services' regulations and general advice about prisons (Kriminalvårdens föreskrifter och allmänna råd om fängelse)In the area of security, the Prison and Probation Services works towards zero tolerance stating that violence, threats and harassment among inmates are not accepted. The prerequisites for a safe environment in the prisons and detention centres are reliable security technology, which includes locks and alarms. Staff working closely with the inmates are regularly trained on how to use this equipment in order to ensure the high level of security. Special provisions exist for prisons or detention centres.

NATIONAL PREVENTIVE MECHANISM RECOMMENDATIONS

Year Recommendation Report
2016The NPM noted that the investigation shows that the prison Färingsö has seriously failed in its handling of pepper spray. The shortcomings have included e.g. that a pepper spray has not been properly stored for a long period. Since the pepper spray had been stored in a space which the inmates had access to, there was a risk that it would end up in the wrong hands. Both staff and inmates have been exposed to danger, and the Prison and Probation Services deserves serious criticism for this. After the incident, the Prison and Probation Services has adjusted its regulations on pepper sprays. Even the specific prison has changed its local manuals. These adjustments are, in my opinion, appropriate. Properly applied, they will ensure that the Prison and Probation Services has the required control of the pepper sprays hereinafter. Further, the following recommendation was presented by the NPM: as already stressed by the Committee in the past, prison health-care services can and should make a significant contribution to the prevention of ill-treatment by the police, through the systematic recording of injuries observed on newly-arrived prisoners and, if appropriate, the provision of information to the relevant authorities. Any signs of violence observed when a prisoner is being medically screened on admission to such an establishment should be fully recorded, together with any relevant statements by the prisoner and the doctor's conclusions. The same approach should be followed whenever a prisoner is medically examined following a violent episode within the prison. The CPT calls upon the Swedish authorities to review the existing procedures in order to ensure that whenever injuries are recorded which are consistent with allegations of ill-treatment made by a prisoner (or which, even in the absence of allegations, are indicative of ill-treatment), the report is immediately and systematically brought to the attention of the competent authorities (e.g. the prosecutor), regardless of the wishes of the prisoner. The results of the examination should also be made available to the prisoner concerned and his or her lawyer. As regards the content of the record to be drawn up after the medical screening, reference is made to the recommendation in paragraph 14 above, which is fully applicable here. The record should also contain the results of additional examinations carried out, detailed conclusions of specialised consultations and a description of treatment given for injuries and of any further procedures performed. Report details