The Government is giving several authorities the task of intensifying their work to counteract organized crime in the welfare sector. This concerns the Employment Service, the Swedish Companies Registration Office, the Swedish Social Insurance Agency, the Swedish Pensions Agency, the Health and Social Care Inspectorate, the Economic Crime Authority, and the police.
In DN Debatt, seven ministers, including Justice Minister Gunnar Strömmer, write that the authorities together to "clean out" criminals from the welfare sector.
The Police's Situation Picture
The authorities' starting point will be the police's situation picture of active gang criminals in Sweden. According to this, there are around 14,000 people who are considered active in criminal networks, and around 48,000 people who are deemed linked to criminal networks.
This is a very operational grip that is about examining individuals, and with that, identifying forces that are involved and "cutting through" our welfare systems, says Gunnar Strömmer.
Authority decisions and payments where these individuals are involved will be checked and reviewed. Licenses will be revoked, incorrect payments stopped, and activities conducted by unscrupulous actors will be shut down, according to the Government.
It was 15 months ago that the police presented the situation picture, but according to the Justice Minister, it is updated continuously.
Many can simultaneously be on the list without being convicted of any crime. Strömmer, however, believes that it would become too narrow to examine those who have been convicted.
We can assume that most people who engage in extensive welfare fraud are not convicted, at least not for welfare-related crime, previously.
He emphasizes that the examination should take place in a legally secure manner and with clear support in the law.
To Be Encircled
The Swedish Social Insurance Agency will lead and coordinate the efforts.
The authorities will simply share information, but also cooperate in a more forward-looking way to "pin-point" these individuals and ensure that they are cleaned out of the welfare sector, says Anna Tenje (M).
The authorities will also provide strategic and systematic support to municipalities and regions in their work to prevent criminals.
