The police see major flaws in how the care for the elderly handles sexual abuse and believe there is a large number of dark stories.
This after 84-year-old Elsa and 80-year-old Ylva came forward and told about the serious sexual crimes they were subjected to.
– There have often been delays in reporting, says Magnus Vesterlund, head of sexual crime group Stockholm south.
After 84-year-old Elsa came out with the fact that she was raped by a domestic worker, several older women have dared to come forward and testify about similar events. Among others, 80-year-old Ylva, who was sexually assaulted in her nursing home by a man who worked at night.
Ylva feels that she was silenced when she alerted the nursing home.
– In the case of sexual crimes in general, there is a large number of victims, it is probably also the case in this category of crime victims. Maybe even more considering that many of them are not capable of contacting the police and the emergency services themselves, says Magnus Vesterlund, head of sexual crime group Stockholm south.
“You often delay reporting”
Now the police confirm that they have seen major flaws in how the care for the elderly handles sexual abuse
The police want nursing homes to draw up clearer action plans, both on the preventive work but also on how to act when an abuse has occurred.
– There has often been a delay in reporting, there has been uncertainty as to whether they are allowed to release information linked to confidentiality. There are clear shortcomings, says Magnus Vesterlund.
Few such incidents lead to charges and verdicts, what responsibility do the police bear?
– Of course, we can always improve and develop our work. But from our perspective, it’s about getting to know about the crime earlier. Then our opportunities increase.