Swedish Police Launch Online Patrol in Gaming Worlds to Combat Grooming and Engage Youth

The Swedish police have initiated a novel online patrol in gaming environments to connect with young people, reduce barriers to contacting law enforcement, and address grooming risks. The initiative was unveiled at Dreamhack in Stockholm, a major gaming festival attended by 60,000 people. Here, uniformed officers took part in gaming activities, aiming to establish a digital presence rather than compete in games like 'Counter-Strike'.

Police inspector Magnus Björn-Bentzen highlighted gaming as a key focus for this pioneering online patrolling effort, inspired by digital policing models in Denmark and Norway, such as Denmark’s use of unique skins in “Roblox” to identify officers. Part of the strategy includes plans for a secure, encrypted chat service to discuss concerns and intervene if grooming or criminal recruitment is detected.

Child X’s general secretary, Ida Östensson, underscored the urgency, warning that grooming in online games can take just 45 minutes and noting 41% of offenders use these platforms. She called on gaming companies to recognize and respond more seriously to this threat.

This digital police initiative represents a proactive approach to youth safety in rapidly evolving online spaces, combining presence, communication, and prevention measures within gaming communities.