Umeå and Gothenburg first in the country with centers against work-related crime

The center in Umeå aims to create an increased ability to work against work-related crime in one of Sweden's most expansive regions.

- It can be anything from human trafficking to tax offenses or violations of the Work Environment Act.

All of this creates unhealthy competition in society where companies that cheat and exploit people benefit, says Thomas Östberg, group manager at the intelligence unit at the police.

It is primarily the Swedish Work Environment Authority, the Police Authority and the Swedish Tax Agency that have been commissioned by the government to set up the center, but eventually other authorities will be involved.  

Will there not be too many chefs?

- No, we have already collaborated since 2018 and this is nothing new for us.

Now we will sit in the same premises and work close to each other, says Thomas Östberg.

A total of seven regional centers will be established before the end of 2023, first out are Umeå and Gothenburg.