Comment to feature in SVT Rapport 100527 "Teleoperators make money on police work"

Society has the right to demand effective law enforcement. Law enforcement authorities must have the resources at their disposal to reasonably investigate and prosecute crimes. Everyone agrees on this.

That businesses and authorities bear their own costs is something that at least most people take for granted. As a matter of principle, the starting point for the justice system must therefore be that the costs of maintaining law and order are borne by the judicial authorities. Just as Volvo should give free police cars to the state, or that the state should not have to pay for fuel at petrol stations, telecom operators should not pay for the police's reconnaissance work.

Operators are entitled to recover their costs. Providing data to law enforcement authorities is far from being as simple a process as is sometimes claimed. Quality and confidentiality must be guaranteed, regulations and customer privacy must be respected, the staff handling the requests must have the right skills, and the work is often manual as many different systems have to be reviewed. This drives costs, for which operators are entitled to compensation.