- In many ways, the legally weak position of children was highlighted last year. The information arrives in a different way, the situation is highlighted in a different way and then we will also receive more applications, says Annika Öster who is Secretary General of the Crime Victims Authority.  

Children who have witnessed domestic violence can receive financial compensation for it from the Crime Victims Authority. Last year, applications for compensation increased from 276 in 2018 to 397 last year. The trend looks set to continue this year as well. Of the children who apply for compensation, 80 percent were younger than 15 years.

Large dark number

But both the police and the Crime Victims Authority believe that in comparison with how many crimes in close relationships are investigated, few children apply for compensation.

- There is a large number of blacks among the women who are exposed to violence in close relationships. Many of the women who come to sheltered housing have children with them. So it is only a fraction who still seek compensation, says Annika Öster.

"It is not uncommon for children to call themselves"

In order for a child to be able to receive compensation, it is required that police officers who go out on alarm about domestic violence carefully document whether there are children on site who may have seen or heard the violence. 

- The police do not have interrogations on site when they come out, but they talk to the children about their mood, what has happened, if there has been any trouble, says Lovisa Olsson who is the child interrogator and adds: 

- It is not entirely uncommon for the children themselves to have called the police.