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Borlänge municipality adopts new routines to reduce vandalism in schools.
Children and young people who destroy can pay off the debt through work.
– A clear consequence is important, says Erik Nises (S), chairman of the municipal board, to Borlänge newspaper.
Schools in Borlänge municipality have had problems with recurring vandalism. At Erikslund’s high school, it has gone so far that the school management felt compelled to send out a pleading message to put an end to the incidents.
Students have spilled drinks in the corridors, thrown snuff on walls and ceilings – and even peed and pooped in trash cans.
“This must come to an end as it concerns everyone’s working environment!”, writes the school management.
Last year Borlänge municipality decided that more measures needed to be introduced to reduce damage to schools.
Among other things, cameras have been set up and on March 7 new procedures were also introduced for when there is damage to the municipality’s property, which Borlänge newspaper have reported on.
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full screen Erik Nises, municipal councilor in Borlänge. Photo: Lotte Fernvall
Valid from six years
Students who repeatedly and intentionally destroy must be made to pay or work off the debt. This applies to students aged six and over. The compensation cost or working hours will vary depending on age.
– If one destroys or causes damage due to carelessness or with intent, the basic rule is that the student and their guardian pay, says Erik Nises, chairman of the municipal board, to Borlänge newspaper.
But in addition to financial compensation, the municipality also wants to give the option of doing things right for themselves through work.
Three weeks of work
He explains that according to the law you need to take age and financial situation into account. Another requirement is to also take into account the degree of maturity of the person who vandalized.
Pupils aged 6–8 can work for a maximum of ten hours and 15-year-olds for three weeks. According to the guidelines, the work carried out must be adapted to the child’s abilities.
– We have looked at the possibility of replacing and making things right for ourselves through work. Some points of departure are that from a political point of view we must highlight support for adults who in their daily work have to set limits for young people, says Erik Nises.
The work can consist of cleaning, raking, painting over graffiti or carrying out simple repairs. The tasks do not have to be connected to what the students destroyed.
FACTAge – Working hours
6-8 years A maximum of ten hours of work.
9-12 years A maximum of one week’s work of 30 hours.
13-14 years oldr A maximum of two weeks’ work.
From 15 years A maximum of three weeks’ work.
Source: Borlänge newspaper
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full screen Mia Roos is critical of the municipality’s new routines. Photo: Private
The mother Mia Roos has three children and lives just outside Borlänge. She is critical of the municipality’s new routines and believes that it is not well thought out.
– I think it is completely the wrong way to go. And to call students with great challenges saboteurs is a rotten view of the children, says Mia Roos.
She believes that it is an emergency solution on the part of the municipality instead of spending more money on the schools. She thinks they should instead focus on creating an environment where children can succeed with the help of more educators and counselors.
– I think you miss the whole point of that. What is the point of punishing the children? A reasonable consequence is that they have to clean up what they have caused, but other work beyond that feels wrong.
“Dangerous Road to Walk”
– It is problematic that the biggest focus is on the adult world having had enough and less focus on the children’s perspective and trying to find out why they act the way they do, says Mia Roos.
Maybe one doesn’t have to exclude the other? Do you not think that the new procedures can have any effect in reducing vandalism?
– It can certainly have some short-term effect. But I think it’s an incredibly dangerous way to go. The relationship is damaged when you resort to punishment. Children who challenge are the ones who especially need extra care and love, says Mia Roos.
FACT Damages
6–9 years 25 percent of the cost.
10–15 years 50 percent in case of negligence 75 percent in case of intent.
16–17 years 75 percent in case of negligence 90 percent in case of intent.
Footnote: this should be viewed as a guide. Assessment is made in the individual case.
Source: Borlänge newspaper
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