Background & Purpose
To address growing concerns about safety and violent incidents in educational environments, the government proposed clear legal frameworks to strengthen security in Swedish schools.
The Decision
An overwhelming majority in the Swedish parliament voted yes to introduce a new chapter in the Education Act focusing on crime prevention and school safety.
Does this affect you?
- School principals: Must implement new emergency plans, oversee bag searches, and file mandatory police reports for crimes committed at school.
- Students: Will be subject to bag searches and increased safety measures during school hours and school activities.
- School staff: Will work under new security guidelines and emergency protocols designed to handle serious threats and violent situations.
In Practice
- Every preschool and school must create and maintain an emergency plan for handling serious threats and violence.
- Schools must take active measures to block unauthorized people from entering school areas during operating hours.
- Principals are legally permitted to search bags and belongings brought by students to school or school activities.
- Principals must file a police report if a student commits a suspected crime during school operations, unless there are exceptional reasons not to.