I appeal to the government. Listen to the police, social workers, school principals, and all others who are sounding the alarm about how crime is decreasing in age, says Jonas Attenius (S), chairman of the municipal council in Gothenburg.
He states that Gothenburg's placement costs increased by 74 million, or 18 percent, between 2022 and 2023.
Attenius and two other Social Democratic municipal councilors participated in a press conference held by their party in the Riksdag on Thursday.
"An incredible amount of money"
Malmö has seen a cost increase of 53 million between January and September compared to the same period in 2023, according to Sedat Arif, municipal councilor in Malmö responsible for labor market and social services.
This is an incredible amount of money that can be used for other activities and to work more preventively, he says.
In Stockholm, the placement costs for 2024 are estimated to land at around 800 million kronor. The cost increase from January to September is 60 million kronor compared to the same period in 2023, according to Finance Commissioner Karin Wanngård (S).
More expensive placements
The three municipal councilors describe how the state is shifting costs to the municipalities as the state-run SIS homes are having difficulty accepting all young people. In Stockholm, 21 young people are currently waiting for SIS placement, according to Wanngård.
Instead, the municipalities have to arrange for more expensive placements at HVB homes.
It's primarily the cost that has increased. It's not that many more young people are being placed, says Wanngård.
Those who run HVB homes know that they can charge a lot for these placements.
