Detail
How to complain
A complaint to the Parliamentary Ombudsmen (JO) can be made by anybody who believes that he or she or someone else has been treated wrongly or unjustly by a public authority or an official employed by the civil service or local government.
In other words, it’s not necessary for a person to be a Swedish citizen or have reached a certain age to make a complaint. Your complaint does not have to be about something that affects you personally.
What information should a complaint contain?
- The name and address of the person complaining
- A complaint should refer to the authority and/or the public official who has acted incorrectly
- A short description of the matter that the complaint regards
- When it happened
- The behavior that is considered incorrect
- Reasons why the authority and/or the public official acted improperly
- Any registration or file number the authority may have assigned to the case
- Attach copies of any documents that may show improper actions
- A written complaint should be signed
Important things to bear in mind
Anonymous complaints are not investigated by the Parliamentary Ombudsmen.
A complaint should not concern circumstances that date more than two years prior to the complaint (known as the "two-year rule").
Complaints and accompanying documents become public domain as soon as they reach the Ombudsmen, unless classified as confidential according to the Secrecy Act.
If an inquiry into a complaint begins, the official concerned will be informed about the complainant’s identity.
An ombudsman cannot alter a judgment or a decision. Dissatisfied individuals should appeal to a higher instance within the stipulated time.
Processing personal data
How the Parliamentary Ombudsmen process personal data