The City Council made a decision last week to apply for a permit to have camera surveillance inside the library building itself, which Norra Skåne was the first to tell.

Anders Rosengren is head of culture and leisure.

Photo: Culture and Leisure Administration Hässleholm

Reduce crime

Anders Rosengren does not think that the noise will be so much less with a possible camera surveillance.

However, it can reduce crimes, such as theft and threats against staff.

- I think that at least some people think if they know they can get caught on film, says Anders Rosengren.

If Hässleholm gets a yes from the county administrative board, it will be about cameras that record and films that the police can watch if there is a criminal suspicion.

Anders Rosengren emphasizes that no one will sit and watch continuously. 

A meeting place for everyone

The proposal for camera surveillance comes from a motion from the Sweden Democrats.

Their motion also went further and suggested access control to the library.

To enter, you would need to have identification or a library card.

The proposal was voted down and Anders Rosengren does not think it is a good idea either.

- Once people have come in, we have no authority to demand identification inside the library, so I think such a system has been completely ineffective, he says.

- One must also remember that the library is now something different than before.

Today it is a meeting place where you can not demand total silence.

That is not to say that one should accept everything.

You could say we want everyone here, but unfortunately not everyone can behave.

Difficult to get permission

Anders Rosengren believes that it can be difficult to get the county administrative board to say yes to cameras inside the library, precisely in view of personal integrity.

- But it is not we in the administration who will decide it, but it is the county administrative board's business, he says