The police are being investigated for misconduct after the abduction of journalists

It was in June that a photographer and a reporter were covering a climate demonstration on Västerbron in Stockholm, when the police stopped them, went through their equipment and took them away in a police car.

This despite the fact that the journalists stated that they belonged to the press and were there to cover the events.

According to the journalists, the police must also have asked for their sources in connection with the abduction.

Reported to JK

The Union of Journalists and Reporters Without Borders have directed harsh criticism at the procedure, and jointly submitted a report to the Chancellor of Justice regarding the police's actions.

In it, they pressed both on the abduction of the journalists, but also on what is seen as a lack of respect for source protection.

Now the Chancellor of Justice is proceeding with the report, and has started a preliminary investigation into violations of the investigation ban and misconduct.

- For us, it shows that they take this report and the events very seriously, says Ulrika Hyllert, president of the Association of Journalists.

- We now hope that the police officers who did this are identified and that - even though it may sound harsh - they are prosecuted and sentenced.

That the police as an authority take these questions much more seriously than they do at the moment, says Hyllert, and points to yesterday's incident where two journalists were arrested and taken away in connection with their coverage of another climate demonstration in Stockholm.

 Even Reporters Without Borders welcomes the news:

- It is good that the JK notification goes ahead.

Since another journalist was arrested on Monday, it shows a need to get to the bottom of this so that the police get an understanding of how serious it is, says Erik Halkjær, chairman of Reporters without Borders Sweden.

The police self-critical: "A failure"

Varg Gyllander, press manager at the police, also sees it as positive that JK is investigating the incident.

- It is a difficulty when journalists move in public space and the police intervene.

It is not entirely clear how either journalists or the police should act then, we think.

It is excellent that JK is taking a closer look at this particular case, he tells SVT.

- Every time we are alerted to the fact that people who carry out journalistic work are subject to some form of intervention by the police, it is a failure.