The government wants to make it illegal to insult public servants

- People who work for the public are exposed to violence and threats and harassment and undue pressure, and protection for them must be strengthened.

One such example is social workers who can endure terrible insults, says Minister of Justice Gunnar Strömmer (M) to SVT.

Strömmer mentions, for example, the campaigns aimed at LVU and the social service.

The government therefore wants to strengthen the protection for public employees, including police officers and social workers.

Therefore, three additions are now being made to the ongoing investigation into measures to reduce the vulnerability of public employees.

Investigating new crime

To begin with, they want to investigate a new crime, insulting an official.

- Society is making it very clear that we do not accept that our most important public representatives to guarantee the safety and security of the citizens are treated in any way whatsoever, says Gunnar Strömmer.

What kind of situation are we talking about?

- I don't think it's that hard to imagine.

It doesn't have to be physical violence or threats, but it can still be an insulting address that is very offensive.

They also want to review increased penalties for violence or threats against officials, and for the investigation to decide whether the penalty for sabotage against blue light operations needs to be increased.

The points are partially included in the Tidö Agreement.

Increased protection for personal data

In addition to that, the government also wants to see increased protection for public employees' personal data.

On the one hand, they want to investigate the so-called confidentiality marking in the population register and whether public employees should receive protected information more easily.

On the one hand, they want to review a reduced exposure of public employees' names in decisions and other public documents.

The protection shall apply to public employees who may be exposed to violence, threats, harassment or other undue influence, for example police officers and social workers who work against organized crime.

- Employees in vulnerable positions who are employed by the public sector must be able to receive protection for their personal data to a greater extent, says Gunnar Strömmer.

The investigation must be completed by 1 January 2024 at the latest.