There was a long debate in Danderyd's municipal council on Monday evening before the vote on a begging ban. At 22, however, the proposal was pushed through and this means that from the beginning of the year it will be forbidden to beg in public places in the municipality. This means that beggars are no longer allowed to sit in, for example, squares or outside grocery stores.

The begging ban also means that beggars may not ask for empty glasses at the municipality's various recycling stations.

Hanna Bocander (M) is the chairman of the local council in Danderyd. She says that many local residents heard about her and wanted a begging ban.

- They have experienced insecurity and demanded this. I would say that it is one of the questions that most people hear from me, and it is above all older women. There are those who testify that they no longer go to the recycling station but throw away all the garbage at home in the trash can, says Hanna Bocander (M).

According to the municipal administration's investigation, a rough estimate is that eight to thirteen people per day are dedicated to the passive collection of money in Danderyds municipality, while one to five people are engaged in active collection of money, recycling waste and bottles or jars with a deposit.

Third municipality in the county

Monday's decision in Danderyd means that there are now three municipalities in Stockholm County that, within the course of a couple of weeks, have pushed through a decision on a begging ban. First out was Lidingö followed by Täby and now Danderyd.

Although there is a begging ban in all three places, it works a little differently in the municipalities. In Lidingö, the ban on ten squares applies. In Täby, however, they have gone further, where it is forbidden to beg at shopping centers and at recycling and mortgage centers. Danderyd has also decided on a similar model to Täby.

- There is no sanction linked to this, it is not a violation of law but it is about regulations and then you can be rejected. That's what can happen, says Hanna Bocander (M).

"Populist decision"

The Social Democrats in Danderyd together with the Center and the Environment Party voted no to a begging ban in the municipality.

- I think it's a populist decision that you choose to push through, says Jenny Åkervall, group leader of the Social Democrats.

- These are a few individuals and there are far more important things that Danderyd's orderly authorities should devote to, such as drugs or burglaries. It just becomes a symbolic question to sweep away something that some people find difficult to see, says Jenny Åkervall