"To revoke children's fundamental rights to freedom of movement and then place them in institutions that not only lack proper care programs but are even run by grossly criminal individuals is extremely serious. This risks making some children worse off than when they were placed in HVB homes," says Peter Allheim, commissioner at the police's National Operational Department (Noa), in a press release.
The report is based on a previously classified intelligence report from the Police Authority, where SiS and HVB homes in Sweden have been reviewed.
Between January and November last year, the police conducted a thorough review of the country's SiS and HVB homes. A total of 2,865 escapes and deviations came to the police's attention. In connection with this, it also emerged that several HVB homes are run by organized crime and staffed by individuals from criminal networks.
"There are many real heroes within the municipalities and HVB homes who do an absolutely fantastic job. But the police have a social responsibility to inform about the sometimes non-existent vetting of personnel who are hired, as well as the deficiencies in, for example, control systems and supervision," says Peter Allheim.
HVB homes (homes for care or accommodation) are an institution within social services that receive young people for care or treatment. Many HVB homes are privately run.
SiS homes are youth homes run by the state authority, the National Board of Institutions, where individualized compulsory care and closed youth care are provided.
The majority of the residents in the homes are children and young people who have been taken into care according to the Care of Young Persons Act (LVU) for example due to substance abuse. A smaller proportion are those who have been taken into care according to the Act on Closed Youth Care (LSU) after being convicted of a crime.
Adult substance abusers can also receive care at special LVM homes run by SiS according to the Act on Care of Substance Abusers.
Sources: The National Board of Institutions, The Swedish Association of Local Authorities and Regions, The National Board of Health and Welfare
