Police report reveals criminal entities operating residential care homes in Sweden

A police report, previously classified, reveals that several residential care homes in Sweden are operated and run by criminal entities. The chairperson of the Swedish Association of Local Authorities and Regions (SKR), Anders Henriksson, has strongly criticized the supervisory authority, Ivo, stating, “The situation is incredibly serious. Our assessment today is that Ivo is failing in its mission. Oversight needs to be strengthened.”

It has been seven weeks since police issued a press release about the report, yet none of these homes have been shut down. Tommy Hansen, the acting director general of the Health and Social Care Inspectorate, explained, “We need legal grounds to close residential care homes. We cannot just close them.” He admitted that the necessary tools for immediate action are lacking and emphasized the need for enhancing Ivo’s legal capabilities while fostering collaboration with other authorities.

When asked about the timeline for shutting down homes run by criminals, Hansen stated, “I cannot promise that we will close that home by a specific date. We have never worked this intensively against criminal and unscrupulous operators.”

The continued operation of these residential care homes raises serious concerns about the safety and welfare of the individuals in care, prompting calls for more robust oversight and immediate legislative backing to take decisive action against criminal involvement in the sector.