Analysis · 2 min read
The camera surveillance that arrived — counts2022–2025 and separate impact research
Police fixed and mobile cameras rose from715 at the start of2022 to3916 at the end of2025. The count series does not measure crime-prevention effects. That question requires separate evaluations.
Short version in the chapter: Camera surveillance — overview
Published 2026-07-16
From 715 to 3,916 cameras
The Swedish Police Authority's annual report 2025 (table 5) shows a clear increase: from 715 fixed and mobile surveillance cameras at the start of 2022 to 3,916 at the end of 2025.
This is approximately5.5 times the initial count. The annual-report count series does not isolate the effects of legislation, funding or police priorities.
Camera counts in a table
Fixed and mobile cameras, start2022 and year-ends2022–2025. Counts do not measure crime-prevention effects.
Start of 2022
- Number of cameras
- 715
2022
- Number of cameras
- 955
2023
- Number of cameras
- 1735
2024
- Number of cameras
- 2867
2025
- Number of cameras
- 3916
| Reference date | Number of cameras |
|---|---|
| Start of 2022 | 715 |
| 2022 | 955 |
| 2023 | 1735 |
| 2024 | 2867 |
| 2025 | 3916 |
Rules and privacy are a separate question
IMY’s original states that the Police Authority, Security Service, Coast Guard and Customs can conduct camera surveillance without an IMY permit from1 January2020. The permit requirement ended entirely on1 April2025. That does not mean all surveillance is lawful.
The surveillance interest must still outweigh the privacy interest. Previously permit-covered operators must make their own assessment and, where applicable, document the balancing assessment and keep a register. IMY retains supervisory responsibility.
What does impact research show?
Brå’s2018 review Fungerar kamerabevakning brottsförebyggande? covers80 primary studies,76 included in the meta-analysis. It found statistically significant reductions in vehicle, property and drug crime. No statistically significant effect was demonstrated for violent crime or public-order disturbances.
Effects were demonstrated for car parks and residential areas, but not town centres, public transport or specific multi-family housing areas. The studies differ in offences and settings; their findings are not a forecast for each new Swedish police camera.
What the different measures cannot answer
The police camera stock, prevented offences, cleared offences and privacy intrusions are different measures. Increasing counts do not automatically show improved safety, and no statistically significant effect does not prove exactly zero effect.
IMY states it does not know the total number of surveillance cameras in Sweden. Police fixed and mobile cameras must therefore not be labelled a national total.
Method and source scope
715 refers to the start of2022. The points955,1735,2867 and3916 refer to the ends of2022,2023,2024 and2025 respectively. The annual report lists10 ANPR cameras separately; they are not included.
Camera stock is a stock, not surveillance hours, drone flights or unique monitored people. Impact studies use other populations and denominators.