This guide is informational. Always verify how the rules apply to your specific case.
Last reviewed on August 16, 2026.
Brief answer: Yes, you are generally allowed to film the police in Sweden when you are present. This applies during traffic stops, ID checks, interventions on the street, and arrests—as long as you do not obstruct police work or create an immediate danger.
The question "can you film the police" becomes practical when you are stopped, when someone is arrested in front of you, or when you want to document how the police act. The aim of this guide is not to provoke. The goal is for you to be able to film legally, calmly, and usefully. See also important when you have been subjected to the police and record meetings with authorities.
Yes, you may film the police during an inspection
Yes. When you are personally involved in the situation – for example, when you are stopped in a car or checked as a pedestrian – you are generally allowed to film. The same general rule applies as for recording conversations: personal documentation when you are participating is generally permitted.
The police may ask you to move if you are in the way, but they cannot generally prohibit filming just because they do not want to be filmed. If you film from a distance, keep the phone visible, and do not shout over their instructions, the risk of conflict is reduced.
Yes, you may film the police when you are stopped.
Yes, if you are the one being stopped or clearly participating in the situation. Start recording early, keep the phone steady, and note the time, place, and who says what. If the police ask you to put away the phone so you can show your driver's license or handle something practical, you can pause – but you do not need to delete what you have already recorded.
Yes, you may film an arrest.
Yes, when you are present and filming from a distance that does not obstruct the intervention. You must not position yourself in a way that prevents the police from acting safely, and you must not physically intervene. The Parliamentary Ombudsman (JO) has emphasized in several cases that the public has an interest in being able to document police actions, while the police must be able to perform their duties.
See JO dnr 6506-2017 as an example of how the issue of filming police interventions has been examined.
Can the police force you to stop filming?
The police may ask you to step back, move, or stop interfering with the investigation on site. As a general rule, they cannot seize your phone or demand deletion solely because you are filming legally. If they claim you are obstructing emergency services, creating danger, or violating public order rules, the situation may be different – but the reason must be concrete, not just "no one is allowed to film."
Evidentiary value: can the film be used?
A video recording can often be cited as evidence or support in a dispute, with the Parliamentary Ombudsman (JO), with the Swedish Police Authority's special investigations, or in court. Its strength depends on the original being intact, the ability to show time and place, and that the footage actually shows what you claim. Do not edit the original file and do not publish it in anger.
Read more in our guides on recording meetings, documentation of police operations and cameras and privacy.
Common Mistakes
- You are filming from the wrong distance and blocking the police's workspace.
- You publish immediately instead of saving as working material.
- You delete the original after editing a short version.
- You film identifiable innocent people unnecessarily – mask faces if you share excerpts.
- You believe that film automatically wins the dispute – it must be put into context.
Common Questions About Filming the Police
div class="nj-block-body"> div class="nj-faq-item" data-nj-faq-item>Is it allowed to film the police in Sweden?
div class="nj-faq-answer">Yes, normally when you are present yourself and do not obstruct the work. This applies during stops, checks, and arrests.
/div> /div> div class="nj-faq-item" data-nj-faq-item>Is it illegal to film the police in Sweden?
div class="nj-faq-answer">No, normally not when you are present yourself and do not obstruct the work.
/div> /div> div class="nj-faq-item" data-nj-faq-item>Do you have the right to film the police?
div class="nj-faq-answer">As a general rule, yes, when you are participating in or witnessing the situation from a safe distance. The police may ask you to move if you are in the way, but cannot generally prohibit legal filming.
/div> /div> div class="nj-faq-item" data-nj-faq-item>Is it allowed to photograph police cars and police stations?
div class="nj-faq-answer">From public places, it is often permitted, but avoid photographing protected or sensitive details unnecessarily.
/div> /div> div class="nj-faq-item" data-nj-faq-item>Is it allowed to publish the film online?
div class="nj-faq-answer">Legally, it may sometimes be possible, but it can create privacy issues and escalate the conflict. Use the film first as documentation.
/div> /div> div class="nj-faq-item" data-nj-faq-item>Can the police seize the phone?
div class="nj-faq-answer">Not solely because you filmed legally. Seizure requires specific reasons according to the regulations.
/div> /div> div class="nj-faq-item" data-nj-faq-item>What should I do if the police say it is prohibited?
div class="nj-faq-answer">Calmly ask which legal basis they refer to, continue filming from a distance if it is safe, and save the film. You can later report with documented evidence or make a complaint to the Parliamentary Ombudsman (JO).
/div> /div> /div> /section>
