Police in Sweden's Region Syd are employing a new proactive method using fake profiles on digital platforms to identify and protect children at risk of sexual exploitation, according to a report from SVT Jämtlandsnytt. The initiative, which began implementation in summer 2025, has already yielded results with approximately 10 children identified and assisted.
Police Inspector Christian Abrahamsson of Region Syd stated, "Every child we can find as early as possible means we actually prevent future crimes." He emphasized that Region Syd is the first police region to implement this approach, which focuses on major platforms like Snapchat as well as various sugar dating sites.
Every child we can find as early as possible means we actually prevent future crimes.
The working method involves police operating covertly online to locate minors who may be vulnerable to exploitation. Abrahamsson noted that while the primary goal is to help children, the approach also enables reactive investigations that identify perpetrators. The police work in close collaboration with social services, requiring specialized competence for operating discreetly in digital environments.
According to the report, the method became available to all police regions in summer 2025, and there is already significant interest from other regions in adopting similar approaches. The initiative represents a shift toward more proactive digital policing to address child sexual exploitation before crimes occur.