Criticism of Swedish Customs for putting an arrested person in handcuffs and a waist restraint belt during transportation and taking him to a pharmacy to collect his medicine while wearing these

A person was stopped by customs officials at the border with Sweden and later arrested on suspicion of criminal offences. While being transported to police custody, he was handcuffed and belted at the waist. At the police detention facility, the person informed the customs officers that he was in need of medication. The customs officers then took him to a pharmacy where he had to collect the medication while wearing the handcuffs and belt.

The Parliamentary Ombudsman states that there was no basis for the use of restraints. Furthermore, the Parliamentary Ombudsman states that the person was subjected to unnecessary attention because of the visit to the pharmacy and that the measure was not compatible with the requirement of consideration that applies to the use of all coercive measures. Swedish Customs is criticised for this and for not documenting the reasons for the use of restraints in sufficient detail.