Transfer of information between schools for crime prevention purposes
Translated from Swedish by AI; the translation may contain errors. The Swedish text is the original.
Summary AI, written in advance
The debate concerns the handover of information between schools to prevent crime. L motions for approval because it is important that the school is a safe place and that an effective exchange of information is enabled to protect children 1. MP supports the purpose in principle but argues that the handover should be an opportunity rather than an obligation 2. M argues that an obligation is important to work preventatively and to protect the work environment for students and teachers 3 4. SD motions for approval and argues that a tightening is needed because there is a lack of requirements today 5. SD considers that mandatory information handover benefits students and staff 5. M considers it important to share relevant information to strengthen the work regarding students in the risk zone and to detect honor-related violence 6. KD considers that the legislation makes it clear that information should be handed over in cases of concrete risks 7. KD argues that the information must accompany the handover so that the receiving school can provide the correct support 7.
Written by AI in advance and may contain errors. The numbers lead to the speech a statement builds on; check against the text below.
Joar Forssell (L)
Madam Speaker! These are very pressing issues. School should not only be a place that enables class trips, that one can come from anywhere and get anywhere in life through one's own achievement. School must also be a safe place for children and teachers, a place that parents look forward to the children attending during the day and a place where one receives both knowledge and security and builds friendships for life.
To make it possible, we must, of course, combat those deviations of social or antisocial behavior that may exist in school. It can be about bullying in some debate. It can be about purely criminal activity. It can also be about individuals among the students being in a situation where they risk being recruited into crime or committing crimes.
This government has implemented important measures regarding increasing the opportunities for school, police, and social services to cooperate, such as removing obstacles for information transfer between them. It is incredibly important and enables both preventive work and the work that is required if the worst still happens.
Madam Speaker! That is why the proposal in the report we are debating today and will vote on tomorrow is so important. Ultimately, it is about a child's perspective. It is partly about the children who attend the schools where other students, for example with a history of crime, can move. One can change schools and end up at a new school, and it is about the other children at the new school and their need for protection and for the right measures to be implemented and for the right knowledge regarding the children who arrive there. But it also, of course, is about the children who change schools, the children who have ended up on the wrong track in life and need special interventions, need to be identified, need to be followed up and need to receive the right support, the right measures and the right safety net around them.
Madam Speaker! That is why it is so important that we enable and do not obstruct an effective and good exchange of information between schools. This is part of the government's policy for crime fighting, to create safety, for the re-regulation of Swedish school, and to build a knowledge school worthy of the name all over the country where the school is allowed to be a temple in the middle of the village – a temple for knowledge, a temple for safety, and a temple for faith in the future.
Therefore, I move for approval of the committee's proposal in the report.
Camilla Hansén (MP)
Madam Speaker! School should be a safe place for all students and all staff. Measures to make school a safer and more secure work and educational environment are very welcome. A functioning exchange of information can, in the right context and if carried out in the right way, be crucial for society to be able to act in time and prevent serious consequences for both the individual and society.
I want to emphasize what Sweden's teachers write in report F, which arrived last week, namely that our children's future is largely decided in school. The report shows the connection between failing grades and a higher probability of being sentenced to prison later in life. At the same time, we must be aware that, despite everything, fewer and fewer are included in the criminal record when they reach adulthood and enter adult life.
I am convinced that what is stated in the report about the school being one of our most powerful crime-preventing places is completely true. That is precisely why the school needs to be filled with skilled teachers who have time for their students, early support, and a strong student health service. The school should be a place to look forward to, a place where one develops as a human being and a place one leaves strengthened from. That is the school's core mission. That is why Miljöpartiet, in every budget during this mandate period, has allocated more money to education than the government has and provided more financial support to the municipalities to maintain the welfare when the economy has taken a hit as a result of the pandemic and war.
Madam Speaker! Miljöpartiet generally supports the content and purpose of the bill but argues that the legislation should provide schools with the opportunity to hand over assignments to other schools to prevent crime, instead of making them obliged to do so.
Just like Sveriges Lärare, who rejected the commission's proposal, we do not think that the school should be given an expanded mandate to prevent and deter crime in this way, which is not directly linked to the school's core mission. We do, however, want the school to have the opportunity to share the information that needs to be shared.
Madam Speaker! Given the workload of many teachers and principals, as well as their already extensive duty of care, there is a risk that these regulations may entail an additional workload, a burden that also involves ethical conflicts.
The Council on Legislation notes that from the perspective of legal certainty, it is central that the assessment of which pieces of information should be handed over is carried out by persons with sufficient knowledge and experience of the issues that may arise. Sweden is, as is well known, full of skilled teachers, but they are not trained for this type of legal balancing based on legislation that is also described as unclear. We agree with that picture and request a clearer impact assessment of what the provisions demand of school staff, taking into account workload and professional ethical considerations.
The government, on the other hand, argues that this legislation provides better conditions for the school's mission and can contribute to the attractiveness of both the principal and teacher professions. I believe the government is making it easy for itself when it regulates the teaching profession ever more strictly and in more detail, and time and again justifies this by saying it should increase the profession's attractiveness. In this very case, Sveriges Lärare rejects the proposal. If one is interested in increasing the attractiveness of the teaching profession, I believe it could be worth listening to them, if the goal is for teachers to stay in the profession and for more to be attracted to it. Unclear and difficult-to-apply obligations are simply not attractive.
Madam Speaker! I now want to focus on the most important people in Swedish schools: the students.
The school is primarily a place for learning and development for every student. If the school does not receive sufficient support and guidance regarding this legislation, the school's credibility risks being undermined. This is particularly important from a children's rights perspective, and it is especially important for children in vulnerable situations.
Sveriges Lärare fears that this duty of reporting may conflict with teachers' professional ethics. According to these, a teacher shall be careful with information about students and not forward such information as has been received in the line of duty if it is not necessary for the student's best interests. Even the privacy of children who could commit crimes in the future is worthy of protection, and teachers' decisions risk falling into conflict with children's rights, professional ethics, and the new legislation. We therefore request clear directives on implementation and follow-up that take these points into account, as well as that an in-depth child impact assessment is conducted.
Madam Speaker! As I began with, Miljöpartiet does not oppose teachers being able to hand over important information that can prevent crime. However, we want it to be formulated as an opportunity and not as an obligation, that competence and professional ethical considerations are taken into account, and that an in-depth child impact assessment is conducted in connection with the implementation.
I remind again that school can be the most powerful protective factor against crime we have. Let us focus on ensuring that Sweden's teachers and principals are given the best conditions to receive all our children and then send them out into life ready to take on the rest of their lives.
Madam Speaker! With that, I move for the reservation to be approved.
Marie-Louise Hänel Sandström (M)
Madam Speaker! I thank Camilla Hansén for the presentation.
Member of the Board Camilla Hansén speaks of an opportunity, not an obligation. But there is already today an opportunity to transfer information. Since this unfortunately has not functioned, the Moderate-led government has commissioned an investigation into how it can be done. We believe that it is important to work preventatively.
Does the member not want to work preventatively? Why does one not want to change something that unfortunately does not work today?
Camilla Hansén (MP)
Madam Speaker! I thank Marie-Louise Hänel Sandström for the questions.
You wonder if the Green Party and I do not want to work preventatively against crime. If there is any party in the Riksdag that constantly focuses on science, prevention and promotion, education, and strengthening protective factors, it is the Green Party. We know that many of the repressive measures that this government is taking do not actually prevent crime.
In this matter, there are certain obstacles to handing over this type of information to other schools. It is those obstacles that the bill addresses, and I have no comments on that. I want teachers and principals to be able to hand over information that they consider important for the next school to have, in order to protect a vulnerable child and to provide good conditions for a child who is in a vulnerable situation or who risks falling into crime.
The problem here is that the large professional group working in the school does not think the proposed legislation is good enough. They argue that it places them in ethically difficult dilemmas and that it will result in an increased workload. I am concerned about legal certainty and privacy even for those children who may be on a path toward crime or perhaps already are there. Even their rights must be protected.
Marie-Louise Hänel Sandström (M)
Madam Speaker! I thank Camilla Hansén for the answer.
If there are any who also work a lot with these issues, it is the Moderate-led government. That is why we have commissioned all these inquiries. I still think it is strange that one wants to say no to the proposal.
The chairman mentioned the teachers' work environment and that it would be difficult to carry out this exchange of information. But when we have asked teachers why they are leaving the teaching profession, it is the work environment that most often comes up. Previously it was the salary, but now most mention the work environment.
This is about both the students' working environment and the teachers' working environment. That is why we want a careful transfer, i.e., an obligation. Of course, it should, as far as possible, occur in agreement with the student and the guardian. It is not intended to be something that is a surprise. When it is possible, an agreement discussion should take place beforehand.
From the perspective of the Moderates and the government, it is also about protecting the teachers and improving the working environment for students and teachers. I still cannot see why the member is against this, even though the member says that she is largely in favor.
Camilla Hansén (MP)
Madam Speaker! It is clear that the teachers' working environment is important. I have some advice for the government on what can be done for the teachers' working environment.
One must ensure that there is sufficient time for preparatory and follow-up work. Ensure that competence development takes place. Ensure that there are qualified and licensed teachers available to colleagues.
Qualified teachers in every classroom is an incredibly strong protective factor for a good education. I have several times in the chamber and in other contexts, in election debates, asked how the government will ensure that, for example, the children in Kiruna get more qualified teachers and fewer cancelled lessons in primary school. I have not seen any answers.
If you want to do something for teachers; ensure that they have qualified colleagues. In that way, a good working environment is created.
The committee member says that the transfer will, of course, take place in agreement with students and parents. I do not remember the exact wording. Yes, perhaps it does, and that is good. There are no obstacles to this today; that is to say, one is allowed to hand over information in agreement. It means that one will hand over information that is sensitive because one believes that someone in the future may commit a crime or be subjected to a crime. But even professionals who work with these assessments find the task difficult.
I want to clarify that I am not saying no to creating a space that allows for the submission of the assignments. What I am saying no to is that it should be an obligation. I do so because Sveriges lärare have flagged several problems regarding their professional ethics, for children's rights, and for ethical dilemmas. This means that I stand on their side in the matter.
Jörgen Grubb (SD)
Madam Speaker! We are therefore debating the report Handing over tasks between schools for crime prevention purposes. I move for approval of the proposal in the report.
The purpose of the proposal in the report is that all students and all school staff should feel safe and secure in school. School is, as you all know, a workplace where many children and young people, together with school staff, spend many years. That this shall be a very safe workplace is something that Sverigedemokraterna and the Tidö government prioritize highly.
Today, the school is a relatively safe workplace, but we want to further strengthen this with today's report as well as with the changes within the area that have already occurred. Here, different reports overlap and complement each other.
Madam Speaker! The Sweden Democrats and the Tidö Government propose that ”when a student changes school unit, the school unit that the student leaves shall hand over to the receiving school unit information concerning the student if, due to concrete circumstances, there is a risk that the student will commit or be subjected to a crime and the information is needed in the receiving school unit's operations to prevent or preclude this”.
In the current legislation, there is a possibility for the submission of information, but it is not a requirement. Therefore, this tightening was needed.
Some types of tasks that may be handed over, which I would like to take the opportunity to mention, are that a student has shown interest in violent extremism, that a student has committed or is suspected of having committed a crime, for example drug trafficking, assault, property damage, theft, offensive photography or unlawful privacy infringement, or that a student is in contact with gang criminals. This was a selection, and some of the examples are serious.
Furthermore, information relating to the student's proximity may need to be submitted. This can include information about relatives' criminality, that the student lives in an honor context, or that the student lives in an environment of substance abuse.
Madam Speaker! A mandatory handover benefits both students who, at the receiving school unit, may need support to avoid being drawn into or continuing with crime, and students at the receiving school unit who may risk being subjected to crime. This is to protect everyone, that is, both the individual and other classmates and school staff.
So: The proposal should be seen both as a protection for the individual student and as a protection for other schoolmates and school staff.
Marie-Louise Hänel Sandström (M)
Madam Speaker! The sun is shining, and outside it smells of lilac. You can feel in the air that the time is approaching for school graduations and graduation celebrations. For many, it is the end of a term or a school year or perhaps on the entire primary school or on the upper secondary school. For many, it is a happy time, but unfortunately, it is not so for everyone. Some have actually had a rather tough school experience. We also see that threats and violence are increasing at several schools.
The time in school, preschool, and during after-school activities is an important time for children and young people. Our skilled teachers mean a lot for it to become a safe and developing time. To acquire knowledge and security, it is important to get study time, something that unfortunately does not always work in our schools.
The Moderate-led government has therefore implemented many changes and legislative proposals to strengthen the time in school. The preventive measures are very important. For example, the decision to remove confidentiality barriers between the school, social services, and the police is a clear and very important measure. Nearly a year ago, the Moderate-led government also decided on an addition to the curriculum clarifying that the school shall convey respect for the fact that laws and regulations in society must be followed. It is another important measure.
Madam Speaker! A functioning schooling is a protective factor to ensure that students do not end up on a criminal path. By sharing relevant information between schools, the work surrounding students can be strengthened, especially those students who are considered to be in a risk zone for committing crimes or being exposed to crimes.
Research shows that the odds of being sentenced to prison for violent crimes are as much as 12 times higher for students with at most 8 passing grades and a full 20 times higher for students who completely lack final grades compared to students who have passing grades in all subjects. These are frightening figures, but they also show how important our preventive work and our support measures are. The Moderate-led government is working incredibly much on all those issues.
In the proposition we are discussing today, the Moderate-led government proposes amendments to the Education Act aimed at ensuring that students, teachers, principals, and other school staff receive a safe and secure educational and working environment. The proposal also aims to ensure that students receive adequate support measures when needed.
Madam Speaker! As previously mentioned, the proposal means that an obligation is introduced for the releasing school to provide information concerning the student to the receiving school when a student changes schools. There shall then be concrete circumstances showing that there is a risk that the student will commit or be subjected to a crime.
The receiving school shall be given the opportunity to prepare for the reception of the student, which can be very important. One can also see it as that, in the long run, one can work out how it should function during a handover so that it becomes better. Today, unfortunately, it is not always good.
The school must also inform that it has received a student, which is also important. The school therefore has a duty to inform both when it leaves a student and when it receives a student.
This will actually come into force already in one month.
I have met very many frustrated preschool teachers and teachers who testify to instances when it is seen that there are already problems surrounding a student, but they are moved to another school. The information is not received, and then no action is taken. Now we are changing that. That is not how it should be. We are changing this so that it works when a student changes schools. The problem should not follow to the new school.
Madam Speaker! What does the proposal mean in a more concrete sense? Well, it is an important step to prevent students from both being subjected to crimes and subjecting other students to crimes.
Furthermore, it is important to counteract the situation where students who may be in the risk zone for honor-related violence and oppression simply disappear from the school system without anyone noticing. Unfortunately, it can happen that a student changes schools and then disappears, and in that case, it is not noticed because there is no proper follow-up. It is very important that honor-related violence is detected early, and there the school plays a very important role.
The Moderate-led government is working with zero tolerance towards forced marriage and child marriage. It is extremely important that teachers know exactly what honor context exists, if there is one, when students, for example, change schools.
I am very pleased with all the improvements the government is making so that students and educators can have a safer and more positive time in the school world. We are doing an incredible amount. I cannot mention everything that we are doing, but as you all know, there are very many different investigations that are actually being carried out now during the spring so that all students and educators feel that the school year is the best time in life.
Mathias Bengtsson (KD)
Madam Speaker! There are few places that are as crucial in a child's life as school. It is there that one grows, is shaped, finds their place, and builds a future. But it is also there that as a child one is most dependent on the adult world functioning – that someone sees, that someone listens, and that someone takes responsibility.
This matter of safety in schools is a rather broad and large concept. It is about order and discipline. It is about every child's right to feel safe, to be able to concentrate, and to be free from anxiety. It is about the student who is afraid on the way to school, about the one who is mistreated at home, about the one who is about to be drawn into something that risks destroying their entire future. It is about every student's right to a calm and safe study environment. But when a student changes schools, the information needed to create that safety and provide the right support from the first day does not always follow.
We know that there has been an arrangement where certain tasks can be handed over, but we also know that in practice there have been quite a few question marks. What can one say? What should one say? Sometimes there has been too little information handed over between schools during a student transition. It is clear that it has consequences for the child who comes to a new school without anyone really knowing what they carry with them, for the classmates who encounter a situation they are not prepared for, and for the teachers who end up in difficult situations without the right prerequisites.
At the same time, Madam Speaker, society has changed. Schools today encounter more students who are in vulnerable situations, who are in high-risk environments or in the vicinity of crime. This places higher demands on the legislation, and it places higher demands on us as decision-makers.
Opportunities to provide information have, as said, existed previously, but they have been limited. The focus has rather been on the student's needs in the teaching. It has primarily been about support for learning, not about safety or crime prevention work. Above all, a clear obligation to provide information has been lacking, which I believe was needed, and it has resulted in that important information sometimes has not been included.
It is exactly here that the new legislation will make a difference. Now it becomes clear that when there are concrete risks, it is not enough that one can hand over information, but rather that one shall hand over information. We are giving the schools the conditions to act in time, instead of reacting in hindsight.
What can this look like in reality? A student who has had connections to criminal networks or in other ways been involved in violence can today arrive at a new school without anyone knowing the risk profile. The new school then has to start from scratch while the old problems follow along. It does not only affect that student, it also affects other children. It affects the staff at the school. We cannot have that. When there are clear signs of risk, the information must follow so that the receiving school can do a good job by providing the right support, creating the right structure, and in some cases also protecting other students at the school.
It can also be about students who themselves run the risk of being subjected to crime, who live in a difficult situation at home or who need protection and care from day one. It can be about students who are already heading in the wrong direction and who need help to break that development. It is, again, also about the children who are around them. They have the right to feel safe.
Madam Speaker! No student is just their behavior. No student is just their background. But every student needs adults who know the whole picture and who dare to take responsibility. The school has a completely unique position in following children through a period in life when much is at stake. Then we cannot accept that important knowledge is lost in the transition between schools. It is not only inefficient but also directly dangerous.
With this legislation, we now give schools better conditions to take their responsibility, to see the whole child, to work preventatively and to create safety. I move for approval of the proposal in the report.
The deliberation was hereby concluded.
Source: The Swedish Parliament. The speeches come from the open data of the Riksdag, translated into English by AI, which may contain errors.