Female court clerk to be sentenced for leaking secret police information
The Attunda district court is set to announce the verdict against a female court clerk who is charged with leaking secret police information to gang criminals. The clerk is facing charges of gross breach of confidentiality, a new crime classification since August 1, pushed forward by the police’s Special Investigations Unit due to a growing need to address serious leaks.
Martin Valfridsson, director at SU, stated that they have seen similar cases within the police as well. It is not just the judiciary that has been affected but also civilian employees and police officers who have made unauthorized searches in the charge register and the suspect register.
Valfridsson stated that the driving forces behind these breaches can include love, financial incentives, or even threats. He also mentioned that the Police Agency is exposed to infiltration attempts and as a result, they have a thorough screening process for police training applicants.
The increased problem is connected to the rise of gang criminals who heavily rely on information and are adept at exploiting vulnerabilities. Valfridsson mentioned that they have seen numerous cases of data breaches where they believed information was passed on to gang criminals, despite being unable to prove it.
It is SU who conducted the investigation against the court administrator at Attunda district court. Valfridsson emphasized that the new criminal classification of serious breach of confidentiality provides increased opportunities to investigate suspicions, including the ability to go through SMS traffic.
The case involving the court clerk at Attunda has been described as a wake-up call for the judiciary. Valfridsson stressed the need for Sweden’s courts to prioritize security measures, including security clearance processes for personnel.
Attempts at infiltration are also reportedly on the rise within the Correctional Service, signaling a broader issue within law enforcement and judicial institutions.
The department for special investigations (SU) is an independent department within the Swedish Police Agency, responsible for investigating suspected criminal activities involving police employees, police students, judges, and prosecutors.
Source: Police Authority