Questioning of a suspect who is abroad

A description of the regulations concerning interviews abroad.

Swedish regulations on international legal assistance in criminal matters are mainly set out in the International Legal Assistance in Criminal Matters Act (Swedish Code of Statutes 2000:562). An interview with a suspect who is abroad requires a formal application for legal assistance to the country concerned. Whether and to what extent Swedish authorities can then receive assistance from foreign authorities is a matter that is governed by the legislation of the country concerned and the international commitments that that country has made in relation to Sweden.

If Swedish authorities wish to conduct an interview with a person who is in an embassy in London, an application for permission to do so must be sent to legal authorities in the UK. The UK will then examine the application under British legislation and British convention commitments.