SVT Nyheter Sörmland has read a letter in which several inmates give their views on the situation at Hällbyanstalten, an institution outside Eskilstuna with the highest security class where people convicted of serious crimes serve their sentences.

"Not surprised" 

The inmates state that they were placed in the ward where the hostage drama took place, but that they did not know anything about the plans.   

- But we are not surprised that it happened either.

We think it is more strange that it has not happened before, it says in the letter. 

They believe that the inmates are exposed to various forms of abuse of power, which has led to infected relationships between staff and inmates. 

"Allergies are not taken seriously"

As an example, they mention, among other things, that documented allergies are not taken seriously and that it can be "almost impossible" to get medical care.

According to institution head Peter Kjellin, however, this is not true.

- The opportunities to receive care are significantly better than you and I will ever have.

As for the allergies, he states that they meet the needs that exist.

- We have 120 inmates, 86 of them have special diets, he states.

The boss has a different picture

The inmates believe that what they perceive as an abuse of power should have led to infected relationships between carers and staff, a picture that the head of the institution Peter Kjellin does not share.

- The relationship is generally quite good.

Then it makes a difference if they are in a group.

It is quite common to try to live up to how you should be as a criminal and behave badly.

But individually, it is rarely a problem, he says. 

Isolated after the drama 

The inmates also write that they feel collectively punished when all the inmates in the ward were isolated after the hostage-taking, even though they were not involved.

Peter Kjellin confirms that the inmates were locked in their rooms.

- It is clear that this is true.

This is the worst thing that has happened in 17 years.

We had to see that more people were not involved.

We could not take the risk that something more would happen, he says. 

The inmates behind the letter also criticize the food, the conditions to be able to take care of their hygiene and the opportunity for education and rehabilitation.

"Worse than in other institutions"

- Rehabilitation is based on you as an individual wanting and taking responsibility.

We have no queue for the treatment programs, so there is a good opportunity for those who want to, says Peter Kjellin.

According to the inmates behind the letter, conditions at Hällbyanstalten are worse than at other institutions with the same security class.  

- All inmates at Sweden's institutions know that Hällby is hell on earth, they write.

The people behind the letter believe that a bad atmosphere in Hällby may have caused the hostage drama, what do you think about that? 

- I can not speculate about it.

The police investigation must show what has happened, says Peter Kjellin.