In Borlänge, the municipality has taken a new approach to get rid of the vandalism in the schools – namely “punitive work”.
– It is not a punishment to be allowed to do the right thing for yourself, says Erik Nises (S), chairman of the municipal board in Borlänge.
It is about students, from the age of six, who have vandalized things or littered, being able to work off the damage instead of paying. Children up to the age of ten may perform a maximum of ten hours’ work, while young people who are fifteen years old may perform up to three weeks’ work.
– We are tired of unnecessary costs and too much is destroyed. The law is clear: whoever destroys deliberately is obliged to replace it, says Erik Nises.
“Doing right for oneself on equal terms”
If a child vandalizes, a bill is sent home to the parents. If the parents cannot pay, it remains as a debt and the child becomes liable for repayment when he turns eighteen.
– An elderly person can get quite a large debt when they come of age and then I think it is nicer that you offer everyone to do the right thing for themselves on equal terms, says the chairman of the municipal board.
Erik Nises believes that there is nothing controversial about the measure, but that it is about cleaning up after oneself.
– We adults have to help each other and set boundaries and show that it’s okay to say sorry and fix what you’ve done, he says.