After supervision by the County Administrative Board in Norrbotten, it was found that Strömsund municipality together with Pajala and Sorsele have failed to apply the safety protection act.
– In these cases, we have assessed that the municipalities have committed violations and therefore we have decided on a penalty fee, says Karin Börjesson, head of department at the County Administrative Board in Norrbotten, in a comment to SVT Norrbotten.
It was two years ago that the Government commissioned an audit of the municipalities’ security work due to the changed security situation. The County Administrative Board in Norrbotten has reviewed the municipalities in Västerbotten, Norrbotten, Västernorrland and Jämtland counties.
Lowest fine for Strömsund
The municipality of Strömsund has been under investigation since December 2022 and it has been about national security based on the Security Protection Act. For example, about how the municipality handles sensitive information.
– What we had to do was answer questionnaires and submit documents, says Richard Persson, security manager for Strömsund municipality.
According to him, the municipality will appeal the decision, as they believe that the decision has not been made on the right grounds.
– We consider ourselves to follow the legal directives to a large extent well and will therefore appeal the decision, says Richard Persson.
The flaws that have been identified are confidential. Of the three municipalities assigned the penalty fee, Strömsund has the lowest. Pajala is required at just over 1.8 million and Sorsele at 2 million kroner.