The purpose of the law, "insult against an official", is to strengthen the protection of publicly employed persons. The crime of insult against an official may result in fines or imprisonment for up to six months.
"Few can tolerate criticism"
However, the law has received harsh criticism. Joakim Nergelius, professor of law at Örebro University, sees it as a restriction on freedom of speech.
There must be room to express anger as long as it does not turn into physical violence, he says to TT.
Even if the law could theoretically restrict a person, he does not believe that it in practice prevents the physical violence against officials that has been punishable since before. That the law protects vulnerable professional groups is also not an argument, he means.
They must accept being criticized, says Joakim Nergelius.
"Serious situation"
In connection with the proposal for legislation being investigated, a survey was made of the exposure of publicly employed persons to violence, threats, and harassment. It showed that the situation is serious and is considered to involve great risks from a societal perspective, emphasizes Irene Sokolow, deputy press chief at the police.
Where the limit goes for what an insult is, will be shown by the practice in the courts, she means.
We believe the new law will lead to more people being convicted when publicly employed persons are exposed to violations, she says.
She rejects the criticism of the law as a restriction on freedom of speech and the opinion that the police and other vulnerable professional groups should tolerate people expressing anger.
Already today, it is a criminal act to insult or violate someone, so there are actually no professional groups that "should tolerate" more than others, she says.
"Well-balanced"
The Social Administration in the City of Stockholm also welcomes the new law. The problem of social secretaries being exposed to insults has become increasingly relevant, according to the administration's communicator Karin Wallander.
The disinformation campaign that has been conducted against social services is one of the reasons for this, she says to TT.
The legislative change that is introduced is well-balanced between different interests, Wallander believes.
It is important that it does not become normalizing to expose social secretaries to insults. At the same time, it is important that people in contact with social services, who are often in a vulnerable situation, are allowed to express themselves.
Ebba Blume/TT
Facts: New law tightens penalties
TT
A new law that tightens penalties for violence, threats, and harassment against publicly employed persons came into force on July 2. The law means, among other things, that "insult against an official" becomes a new crime, which can result in fines or imprisonment for up to six months.
A police officer who is insulted during an intervention can thus report this as a crime. The crime is to include serious violations intended to violate someone's self-esteem or dignity.
In order for an insult to be punishable, it must be directed against a person who works with the exercise of public authority.
Sources: The Riksdag and the magazine Altinget.
