SwedenLivingWorld world_2_fill WorldBusiness BusinessSports sports-soccer SportsEntertainmentEntertain

Schools to be given the right to search students' bags

The government wants to give schools the legal opportunity to search bags to detect, for example, weapons. Schools should also ensure that unauthorized persons do not gain access.

» Published: February 12 2025

Schools to be given the right to search students' bags
Photo: Jessica Gow/TT

After the mass shooting in Örebro, the government is now moving forward with proposals to strengthen school safety.

We are working intensively to increase safety for students, teachers, and other staff members at schools, says Education Minister Johan Pehrson (L).

He states that they will swiftly proceed with the proposals presented by the school safety inquiry in December. The goal is for them to come into effect on July 1 this year.

In some areas, we want to go further than the inquiry, says Pehrson.

Searching Bags

Before the autumn term, the government wants to introduce a new safety chapter into the Education Act. This will require schools to be prepared for serious violent situations through training, planning, and practice, such as lockdowns.

All schools should have an emergency plan so that everyone knows how to act in an acute situation, says Pehrson.

Schools will be given the opportunity to search bags. The inquiry's proposal covered upper secondary school and high school, but after the mass shooting in Örebro, the government wants the entire primary school and adult education to be included.

The inquiry also proposed that bag searches should always be announced in advance, but the government does not agree.

Our ambition is to change the proposal, says Pehrson.

He states that when the school, ultimately the principal, believes that there is a risk of disruptive objects or if there are activities that cause concern, all students' bags can be searched without prior notice.

The principal will make the decision on how it will be done, says the Education Minister.

Locked Schools?

Pehrson emphasizes, however, that if the school believes that a student has brought a weapon, it should be reported directly to the police.

The safety chapter in the Education Act also means that all preschools and schools should work to prevent unauthorized individuals from entering the school premises during operating hours.

This can, for example, involve strengthening access control with entrance checks and a tag system with locked doors, says Pehrson.

TT: Should all schools be locked?

That's up to the principal to decide, says Pehrson.

We see great value in it. Entrance checks are one way.

Principals will also be required to report crimes that occur in connection with school activities.

Tags

TTT
By TTThis article has been altered and translated by Sweden Herald

More news

Sweden Democrats Reject EU Proposal on Gaza Relocation

Sweden Democrats Reject EU Proposal on Gaza Relocation

16-Year-Old Arrested in Connection to Skurup Murder Plot

16-Year-Old Arrested in Connection to Skurup Murder Plot

Ancient Neck Ring Discovery in Sweden Revealed as Modern Prank

Ancient Neck Ring Discovery in Sweden Revealed as Modern Prank

Mother Sentenced to Prison for Leaving Baby Alone to Party

Mother Sentenced to Prison for Leaving Baby Alone to Party

Swedish Court Convicts Man in 2018 Eskilstuna Shooting Cold Case

Swedish Court Convicts Man in 2018 Eskilstuna Shooting Cold Case

Court of Appeal Acquits Man of Murder, Upholds Rape Conviction

Court of Appeal Acquits Man of Murder, Upholds Rape Conviction

Two Charged in Borås Gang-Related Murder Case

Two Charged in Borås Gang-Related Murder Case

Suspected Dangerous Object Prompts Evacuation in Södertälje

Suspected Dangerous Object Prompts Evacuation in Södertälje

Koran Burner Murder Case: All Suspects Cleared, No Arrests Made

Koran Burner Murder Case: All Suspects Cleared, No Arrests Made

Woman in Her 30s Charged with Murdering Elderly Relative in Vadstena

Woman in Her 30s Charged with Murdering Elderly Relative in Vadstena

Condom Use Declines Among Nordic Youth, Report Finds

Condom Use Declines Among Nordic Youth, Report Finds

Fatal Fire in Jämtland Cottage: One Dead, Another Injured

Fatal Fire in Jämtland Cottage: One Dead, Another Injured

Man Sentenced for Smuggling Over 2 Million Cigarettes to Norway

Man Sentenced for Smuggling Over 2 Million Cigarettes to Norway

Swedish Police Face Million-Kronor Fine Over Rain Gear Purchase

Swedish Police Face Million-Kronor Fine Over Rain Gear Purchase

Sweden Halts Vehicle Inspections for Emergency Alarms Amid Network Changes

Sweden Halts Vehicle Inspections for Emergency Alarms Amid Network Changes

Kristersson Unaware of Deleted Email in Landerholm Case

Kristersson Unaware of Deleted Email in Landerholm Case

Mystery Deepens Over Trollhättan Neck Ring: Is It Really Gold?

Mystery Deepens Over Trollhättan Neck Ring: Is It Really Gold?

Swedish Agriculture Board Rethinks Controversial Animal Space Rules

Swedish Agriculture Board Rethinks Controversial Animal Space Rules

Missing Skiers Found After Avalanche Near Abisko National Park

Missing Skiers Found After Avalanche Near Abisko National Park

E6 Landslide Probe in Stenungsund Delayed Until Summer

E6 Landslide Probe in Stenungsund Delayed Until Summer

40 Suspects Tied to Malmö Prostitution Ring at Thai Massage Parlor

40 Suspects Tied to Malmö Prostitution Ring at Thai Massage Parlor

Swedish Climate Goals at Risk: Experts Criticize Kristersson's Leadership

Swedish Climate Goals at Risk: Experts Criticize Kristersson's Leadership

Sweden's Government Rejects Experts' Call for Higher Fuel Taxes

Sweden's Government Rejects Experts' Call for Higher Fuel Taxes

Bribery Investigation at Karolinska Hospital Ends Without Charges

Bribery Investigation at Karolinska Hospital Ends Without Charges

Sweden Urged to Act Fast on Climate Goals as Time Runs Short

Sweden Urged to Act Fast on Climate Goals as Time Runs Short

Sweden Moves to Ban Fur Farming, Focuses on Mink Breeding

Sweden Moves to Ban Fur Farming, Focuses on Mink Breeding

Landerholm Trial Delayed to August Amid Evidence Deletion Claims

Landerholm Trial Delayed to August Amid Evidence Deletion Claims

Sweden Unveils Ambitious Cybersecurity Strategy for 2025-2029

Sweden Unveils Ambitious Cybersecurity Strategy for 2025-2029

Sweden Proposes AI Cameras for Real-Time Criminal Detection

Sweden Proposes AI Cameras for Real-Time Criminal Detection

Investigation Reveals Welding Error Sparked Fatal Fire at Liseberg's Oceana

Investigation Reveals Welding Error Sparked Fatal Fire at Liseberg's Oceana

Swedish Man Sentenced to 9 Years for Copenhagen Grenade Attack

Swedish Man Sentenced to 9 Years for Copenhagen Grenade Attack

Dadgostar Urges Legislation to Tackle Soaring Food Prices in Sweden

Dadgostar Urges Legislation to Tackle Soaring Food Prices in Sweden

Reflective Vests Recalled in Sweden Over Safety Concerns

Reflective Vests Recalled in Sweden Over Safety Concerns

Swedish NATO Troops in Latvia Face Penalties for Code Violation

Swedish NATO Troops in Latvia Face Penalties for Code Violation

Lundin Oil Knew of Witness Threats, Continued Operations Anyway

Lundin Oil Knew of Witness Threats, Continued Operations Anyway

Social Democrats Urge Swift Action as Sweden Lags Behind in Defense Strategy

Social Democrats Urge Swift Action as Sweden Lags Behind in Defense Strategy

Customs Alert: Hidden Dangers in Ginseng Supplements from Sweden

Customs Alert: Hidden Dangers in Ginseng Supplements from Sweden

Sweden Allocates 300 Million Kronor to Boost School Safety Measures

Sweden Allocates 300 Million Kronor to Boost School Safety Measures

Man Arrested After Shots Fired at Stockholm Apartment Door

Man Arrested After Shots Fired at Stockholm Apartment Door

Sweden Shines in Happiness Rankings, But Finland Leads the Way

Sweden Shines in Happiness Rankings, But Finland Leads the Way