The lack of space in the Sis homes is a fact and leads to it being easier for young people to commit new crimes, according to the area police Rissa Seidou.
– It is extremely serious. It shouldn’t happen like that, the authority should have some foresight. Many are recruited into gang crime. Many need care. Then they must ensure that there are places.
Today, around fifty criminal youths are waiting for a place at sis. Officer Seidou has spoken to many parents who want to see their children locked up for their sake and others.
But now that there is a lack of places, she is worried that it will reduce trust in parents.
– We are working uphill. Next time they will not want to cooperate with us. Or help us get their youth locked up.
“Totally unacceptable”
After the alarm from SKR about the acute shortage of places at Sis, the government held a crisis meeting with the relevant authorities on Thursday.
– It is completely unacceptable that children and young people who need support and care are forced to wait to receive the community care they are entitled to, says social services minister Camilla Waltersson Grönvall.
Roughly 270 million was set aside in the spring budget to overcome the problems that have arisen as a result of the sharp increase in the number of LSU convicts in recent years. But the Minister of Social Affairs does not think that is enough.
– So far, the government has taken a number of measures to support SiS in this work, but it is not enough, and therefore I am happy that we can now invite to talks to discuss this in more detail, says the Minister of Social Affairs.
Only the “most dangerous” get a place
In order to overcome the acute shortage of places, Sis is now looking at various solutions – both in the short and long term.
– The fastest way to increase places in our operations is to change places from our substance abuse care to youth care, because we already have premises and employees there, says Birgitta Dahlberg, director of youth care at Sis.
In the longer term, new premises are required. Closest to hand are so-called modular houses, which are planned to be set up in existing institutions. That would mean around a hundred new places.
But as the situation looks now, Sis is forced to make an assessment of the young people who are in the queue, among other things based on how prone to violence they are.
– We work every day to assign places to the young people who are waiting in line. There we make an assessment based on the priority of the case, depending on the problem and background of the young person, says Birgitta Dahlberg.