The security risks have been known for a long time and the union has pointed it out to the Correctional Service, says Marcus Carlström. Two exemptions have now been carried out in the space of just under a month. Both in connection with transport to healthcare facilities.
– We have pointed out that there are risks and they have existed for a long time. The problem is that it seems that the criminals have also realized the risks, says Marcus Carlström.
Lack of space leads to emergency solutions
The problems for the national transport unit have been exacerbated by the lack of space and personnel that the Correctional Service is involved in. Among other things, due to waiting times.
– We are exposed when we sit in our cars and when we leave our cars. The overcrowding in prisons and detention centers and staff shortages make these risks greater, says Marcus Carlström.
– There will be a lot of emergency solutions that are not good from a safety perspective.
“Wrong to go out unnecessarily”
Some transports are also carried out unnecessarily, he believes. There are, for example, dental chairs at several institutions and a safer alternative would have been to carry out the visits there instead of at an open reception. The same applies to doctor’s visits.
– We think it is wrong to go on these trips unnecessarily. Especially when there is a high risk of escape or release.
He believes that the police should be involved in all transports is not feasible.
– I don’t think the police have the resources to be involved in all these transports. A bunch of transports leave every day, says Marcus Carlström.
The correctional service will now investigate today’s release in addition to the previous one, before that is done they do not want to say what measures need to be taken.
– But we need to do something, we can’t have continued events with armed release, says Claes Nöjd, investigator at the National Transport Unit of the Prison Service.