Skr. 2016/17:213 conclusion that the general and indiscriminate communications data is not compatible with EU law. retention of electronic A Public Inquiry is therefore to propose the amendments that are necessary for the Swedish regulations to be proportionate and have an appropriate balance between the protection of individual personal privacy and the need for information in order to prevent, impede, detect, investigate and prosecute crimes. The Government believes that it is important for the regulations to be effective and appropriate and for the legislation to be designed to allow new types of crime to be counteracted. Development of activities at the authorities A better ability to prevent, detect, investigate and prosecute cybercrime requires not only appropriate legislation but also that the law enforcement authorities develop the organisation and expertise that are needed. In their appropriation directions for 2017, the Swedish Police Authority and the Swedish Prosecution Authority were commissioned by the Government to secure adequate expertise and preparedness with regard to cybercrime. This commission took into account the reviews by the Swedish National Audit Office and the Swedish National Council for Crime Prevention. As regards sexual crimes against children, the Government has commissioned the Swedish Police Authority to identify areas where there is a need for development and to implement appropriate measures. The commission’s focus includes internetrelated sexual crimes against children and documented sexual assault of children. The commission will be carried out at the national cybercrime centre established at the Swedish Police Authority on 1 October 2015: Swedish Cyber Crime Center (SC3). SC3 was formed in order to use its expertise to ensure and develop investigative support, working methods, uniformity and international cooperation with regard to all forms of cybercrime. The rapid development of cybercrime places great demands on the capability of the law enforcement authorities to continue developing their activities. This work should, according to the Government, be conducted continuously. Crime prevention As with other crime, when it comes to cybercrime it is important to first reduce the inflow to the judicial system and prevent crime at an early stage. More stakeholders beyond the law enforcement authorities need to actively participate in prevention; not least trade and industry plays an important role. Non-law enforcement authorities and industry can, for example, be involved in prevention by helping to enhance society’s control functions and develop technical solutions for increasing security. In order to create better conditions for a structured and long-term crime prevention throughout society, the Government has, inter alia, submitted a communication to the Riksdag containing a national crime prevention programme in March 2017 (Communication 2016/17:126). International cooperation against cybercrime The explicit cross-border dimension of cybercrime means that international cooperation has increased in both scope and importance. Opportunities for cooperation through the EU and its authorities, Eurojust and Europol, are those which are the most important for Swedish law enforcement authorities. Eurojust’s measures have included the establishment of a special network for prosecutors specialising in cybercrime, and Europol set up a cybercrime centre a few years ago. Both of these cooperation mechanisms are important for legal assistance, e.g. seizures and information exchange. 20