This guide is informational. Always verify how the rules apply to your specific case.
Short answer: If you've been exposed to the police — stopped, arrested, searched, or treated in a way that feels wrong — you should document it right away. Record or film if possible, photograph visible tracks, write notes with time and place, ask for witnesses' names and phone numbers, and build a simple timeline of the same day
.The police version is often written down first. Without your own material, your story will be easier to dismiss as memory errors or emotional reactions.
The goal of this guide is not to escalate the conflict on the ground, but to give you a sustainable basis if you later want to report the way to the police, make a JO report or request documents. aside class="rounded-2xl border-red-200 bg-red-50 p-4 text-red-950">Have you been subjected to excessive force by police? In case of acute danger or ongoing threat, call 112. This guide is information and documentation support, not emergency legal advice or
crisis support.Seek care if you have injuries and ask that the injuries be documented in the medical record. Save original footage, photos, testimonials, and timeline before posting anything
.Support is available at the Crime Victim Support Centre, the Crime Victim Authority and in case of violence in close relationships at the Kvinnofridslinie. If you are under 18 years of age, you can also contact Bris.
/aside >1. Record or film — if safe
You are normally allowed to film the police when you yourself are present and not obstructing the work. Turn on recording early when checking or intervening, keep the phone visible and save the original file
without clipping.If the police ask you to back off or pause filming for practical reasons, you can do so -- but you don't have to delete what you've already recorded. Read more in the guide on filming police and recording encounters with authorities
.2. Photographing what is visible
- The location: street, intersection, entrance, distance to camera or surveillance.
- Damage to clothing, skin or objects — take multiple pictures in daylight if possible.
- Police vehicles with registration numbers (from a distance, without blocking).
- Any marks after handcuffs, belt buckle or body visitation.
Also take screenshots if the police communicated via text or email in connection with the incident.
3. Take notes right away
Write down while the memory is fresh:
- Time and place — exact time if possible, address or landmark.
- Who said what -- short quotes, not long interpretations.
- Uniform number, name or position if you were told.
- Number of police officers, gender if you saw it, and whether more authorities were in place.
- Handgrips and words -- “turn around,” “lie down,” “show id” -- in the order they happened.
Notes in the phone are enough. Feel free to send a copy to yourself via email so you have a timestamp
.4. Ask for witnesses
If others saw the incident: ask directly for name and phone number. Many people want to help but have time to disappear. Ask them briefly to describe what they saw, not what you told them.
Also write up if there were store staff, neighbours, passengers or drivers who may have seen anything. Check later if there is camera surveillance in the area - request material in time before it is
deleted.5. Build timeline on the same day
Put together film, photos, notes and witness contacts into a simple chronology. Use our guide on police response documentation as a template. A clear timeline makes it easier to:
- report to the Police Authority's special investigations or the JO;
- request an incident report and medical records,
- explain to the lawyer or support organization what actually happened.
6. After the event — without stressing out the evidence
- Seek care if you have injuries -- ask for journal entries detailing the injury and time.
- Do not publish raw material in effect; use it as a working basis first.
- Request documents — event report, interrogation protocol, body camera if available.
- Choose the right channel — police report, complaint to the police, JO or special investigations depending on what has happened. See where you turn.
Frequently Asked Questions
Can you film the police?
Yes, normally when you are present and do not hinder work. See detailed guide
Where can I report or complain to the police?
To the Police Authority (114 14 or web), the JO, or in some cases the court. Read the notification with documented documentation
Can a JO report be filed against the police?
Yes, if you suspect misconduct. Follow the JO guide and attach timeline and
What happens if you report a police officer?
It depends on which channel you're using -- and the numbers differ. Criminal complaints against police employees are usually handled by the Police Authority's Special Investigations (SU). There were 9,536 cases received in 2025 (approximately 7,900 the year before). Most relate to misconduct — dissatisfaction with treatment or intervention — and in that category, preliminary investigations are initiated only in about 7 percent of cases. Of all completed SU cases in 2024 (7,897pc), 236 were reported to prosecutors, roughly 3%; by 2025, the corresponding figure was 254. The rest are terminated without charge, often without a full criminal investigation
A JO notification follows other rules. The JO received close to 12,000 complaints in total in 2024 -- a record level -- but investigates far from all of them. According to the JO's 2024 office report, about 400 decisions were made after full investigation (down from about 430 the year before). Most complaints are written off; by 2023, 1,282 complaints against the police were registered with the JO, and the absolute majority were terminated without investigation. In addition, JO's own statistics show that a large part of the depreciation takes place without a written response from the authority.
You can also file an internal complaint with the Police Authority (misconduct, response). It is not the same register as SU and does not provide the same follow-up as a criminal complaint or JO trial. Regardless of the channel, your dossier determines whether the investigator can follow the details — time, location, witnesses, film and notes make all the difference. See SU's Annual Report 2025 and the guide notification with documented documentation.
Do I need a lawyer right away?
Not always, but in the event of arrest, suspicion of a crime against you or threat of records trail it may be wise to contact legal support early.
