Sweden votes to back laws reinforcing its immigration crackdown

So-called good behaviour' legislation fiercely criticised by opposition politicians and rights groups

Sweden's parliament has voted to escalate the country's crackdown on immigrant rights, backing laws that allow authorities to revoke residency permits based on a vague criteria of bad behaviour and obliging most public sector workers to report anyone suspected of being undocumented.

The new legislation comes ahead of parliamentary elections in September, pitting the centre-right government, which currently depends on the support of the far-right Sweden Democrats to govern, against a far right that has said its intent is to create one of Europe's most hostile environments for non-Europeans.