Cold facts shows in its review that 201 out of 240 children who were taken into care in 2019 to stop them from crime were subsequently convicted criminals. Many have been convicted of serious crimes, such as robbery, attempted murder and murder.
Social Services Minister Camilla Waltersson Grönvall admits that Kalla fakta’s mapping shows shortcomings.
– I get sad. In each individual case, it is a failure for society, says the minister.
Sticks to the Tidö Agreement
Despite that, she says that she stands by the government’s and SD’s point in the Tidö Agreement that LVU should be used more often in today’s situation.
– What is the alternative to not taking care of children who are in criminal environments. We see examples of that far too often, not least in the news flashes that talk about yet another young life being wasted. It is not an option, says Waltersson Grönvall.
Camilla Waltersson Grönvall says that the government is working to improve social care for children and young people in the coming years.
– We are working on reviewing both LVU. And that we also work with early preventive work. A new social services law is an important part. Ensuring that there is the right privacy legislation is one part. So that you can sit around the same table, from the side of social services, the police and the school, and reason when the first signals come. So that interventions can be made early before it has gone too far.
“Pandora’s Box”
At the same time, the minister criticizes previous governments.
– Every single stone I lift, really, pandora’s box just tumbles out. The social area is so neglected when it comes to children and young people, says Camilla Waltersson Grönvall.
Cold facts have applied for the Social Democrats and former Minister of Social Affairs Lena Hallengren, but the Social Democrats have said no to an interview.