2024-05-022023/24:SoU25 · p.3SoUHealth & social services
Body search of visitors
Body searches of visitors at special youth-care homes
What's at stake: The outcome affects the legal safeguards and safety of visitors and staff during body searches, as well as how much flexibility the homes have when short-staffed or facing acute situations.
Case texts and AI reasoning are AI-translated from the Swedish originals; the Swedish text is authoritative.
What the vote decides
The vote concerns whether body searches of visitors at special youth-care homes should be carried out in the presence of another person only "when possible", as the government proposes, or whether conducting such searches alone should instead be banned outright.
Yes Yes — the committee proposal
The committee backs the government's proposal that body searches of visitors should take place in the presence of another person when possible, in line with the Committee on Justice's opinion, and rejects the demand for an outright ban on conducting such searches alone.
No No — the reservations
Reservation 3 (S, C, MP)
S, C and MP consider the wording "when possible" insufficient and want all solo work in client-facing contacts, including body searches, banned outright instead, in order to strengthen legal safeguards and safety for visitors and staff.
Summarised from the committee report. Party labels in the summary come from the report, not from the vote.
What do the votes mean here?
Yes The committee proposal: rejecting the motions (keeping things as they are).
No Backing the counter-proposal: reservation 3 by S, C, MP.
Abstain The party marks a position of its own that is not one of the two final alternatives.
What each plan points to — and how the party voted
For each party: the vote its own election manifesto and party programme point to in this case, next to how the party actually voted. A plan can only point to Yes or No; a party can also abstain.
| Plan | Vote | Confidence | Evidence | ||
|---|---|---|---|---|---|
| V | No | Yes 17/0/1/6 | departs from the plan | confidence: low | not addressed |
| S | No | No 0/93/0/13 | follows the plan | confidence: low | not addressed |
| MP | No | No 0/13/0/5 | follows the plan | confidence: low | not addressed |
| C | No | No 0/20/0/4 | follows the plan | confidence: low | not addressed |
| L | No | Yes 11/0/0/5 | departs from the plan | confidence: low | not addressed |
| KD | No | Yes 13/0/0/6 | departs from the plan | confidence: low | not addressed |
| M | Yes | Yes 60/0/0/8 | follows the plan | confidence: low | not addressed |
| SD | No | Yes 62/0/0/10 | departs from the plan | confidence: low | not addressed |
Broke with the party line
| VVasiliki Tsouplaki (V, Västmanlands län) | Abstain — party line: Yes |
MPs whose vote differs from their party's majority position in this division. Marked with a dark ring in the chamber view.
Committee proposal
The Riksdag adopts 1. 15 p § second paragraph the Government's proposal for a law amending the Act (1990:52) with special provisions on care of young persons, 2. 16 h § second paragraph the Government's proposal for a law amending the Act (1998:603) on the enforcement of closed youth care. Thereby the Riksdag grants Parliament proposition 2023/24:81 points 1 and 2, both in this respect, and rejects motion 2023/24:2830 by Fredrik Lundh Sammeli et al. (S) claims 1 and 2.
Original (Swedish)
Riksdagen antar 1. 15 p § andra stycket regeringens förslag till lag om ändring i lagen (1990:52) med särskilda bestämmelser om vård av unga, 2. 16 h § andra stycket regeringens förslag till lag om ändring i lagen (1998:603) om verkställighet av sluten ungdomsvård. Därmed bifaller riksdagen proposition 2023/24:81 punkterna 1 och 2, båda i denna del, och avslår motion 2023/24:2830 av Fredrik Lundh Sammeli m.fl. (S) yrkandena 1 och 2.
Riksdag decision: Security and safety at special youth homes shall be enhanced. The Riksdag approved the Government's proposals for measures. Among other things, it is proposed that the State Board of Institutions (Sis) special youth homes shall be divided into security levels. Those who are cared for under the Act with special provisions on care of young persons at a special youth home with elevated security level and those who serve closed youth care under the Act on the enforcement of closed youth care shall only be permitted to use electronic communications services such as, for example, mobile telephony and the internet, to communicate with another person if the equipment has been offered by Sis, approved by Sis and if it is deemed appropriate. Sis is also proposed to gain expanded opportunities to decide on restrictions and control of visits. A visit shall, for example, be able to be conditional upon the visitor undergoing body search on grounds of security if necessary. Sis shall also be able to investigate whether the person the child or young person wishes to communicate with or receive visits from has been convicted of or is suspected of committing a crime. The amendments to the law come into force on 15 May 2024.
Counter-proposals
- The counter-proposal wants to prohibit solo work in client contact and require that body searches are conducted in the presence of another person. (S, C, MP) — Reservation 3
Plan vs actual vote
Every party, in chamber order: what its own plan pointed to, how it voted, and the reasoning behind both. Highlighted rows are where the two differ — but a vote that follows the plan is a result too, so the reasoning is there for every party.
The plan does not address body searches, but requires higher requirements for occupational health and that the law strengthens protection for employees, and that the individual's private sphere is protected on a practical and principled basis.
Plan documents: party programme · 2022 manifesto
Reasoning and quotes
The plan does not address body searches, but requires higher requirements for occupational health and that the law strengthens protection for employees, and that the individual's private sphere is protected on a practical and principled basis. A ban on working alone in direct client contact is an occupational health and legal certainty requirement of that kind. However, the evidence is general, which is why confidence is low.
Original (Swedish)
Planen behandlar inte kroppsvisitation, men kräver högre krav på arbetsmiljön och att lagen stärker skyddet för anställda, samt att den enskildes privata sfär skyddas på praktisk och principiell grund. Ett förbud mot ensamarbete vid klientnära kontakter är ett arbetsmiljö- och rättssäkerhetskrav av det slaget. Underlaget är dock allmänt, varför säkerheten är låg.
- higher requirements for occupational healthdecisive»tryggare anställningar, högre krav på arbetsmiljön och en starkare« (party programme ↗)“safer employment, higher requirements for occupational health and a stronger”
- privacy protection during coercive interventionweak support»Alla människor har rätt till en bred privat sfär« (party programme ↗)“All people have the right to a broad private sphere”
- strong labour law legislation»Vänsterpartiet kommer att fortsätta försvara förhandlingsrätten och en stark arbetsrättslagstiftning.« (2022 manifesto ↗)“The Left Party will continue to defend the right to negotiate and strong labour law legislation.”
flags: citat_svagt
The plan takes no explicit position on what the committee actually decided — often because the committee's reason was procedural. The stance is derived and fully cited, but it does not show the party broke a commitment.
The plan does not address searches, but the party programme requires that work be organized so that everyone can feel secure in life and health and that employees have good working conditions; the election manifesto wants to improve monitoring of the staff's work environment.
Plan documents: party programme · 2022 manifesto
Reasoning and quotes
The plan does not address searches, but the party programme requires that work be organized so that everyone can feel secure in life and health and that employees have good working conditions; the election manifesto wants to improve monitoring of the staff's work environment. A ban on solo work in client-facing situations follows that line and simultaneously strengthens legal security for the client. The basis is principled, hence low certainty.
Original (Swedish)
Planen behandlar inte visitationer, men partiprogrammet kräver att arbetslivet organiseras så att alla kan känna trygghet till liv och hälsa och att anställda har goda arbetsvillkor; valmanifestet vill förbättra tillsynen av personalens arbetsmiljö. Ett förbud mot ensamarbete i klientnära situationer följer den linjen och stärker samtidigt rättssäkerheten för besökaren. Underlaget är principiellt, därav låg säkerhet.
- security regarding life and healthdecisive»Det måste organiseras så att alla kan känna trygghet till liv« (party programme ↗)“It must be organized so that everyone can feel secure regarding life”
- better work environment oversight»tillsynen av personalens arbetsmiljö ska förbättras« (2022 manifesto ↗)“supervision of the staff's work environment shall be improved”
- respect for staff»Arbetslivet ska rättvist värdera och respektera allas insatser.« (party programme ↗)“Working life shall fairly value and respect everyone's contributions.”
The plan does not address body search, but safeguards people's right to integrity and opposes disproportionate interference, while staff shall have a good physical and psychosocial working environment.
Plan documents: party programme
Reasoning and quotes
The plan does not address body search, but safeguards people's right to integrity and opposes disproportionate interference, while staff shall have a good physical and psychosocial working environment. A ban on working alone during client contact strengthens both these interests, both the searched person's legal certainty and staff safety. The conclusion is derived from general principles and therefore uncertain.
Original (Swedish)
Planen behandlar inte kroppsvisitation, men värnar människors rätt till integritet och motsätter sig oproportionerliga ingrepp, samtidigt som personalen ska ha en god fysisk och psykosocial arbetsmiljö. Ett förbud mot ensamarbete vid klientnära kontakter stärker båda dessa intressen, både den visiterades rättssäkerhet och personalens trygghet. Slutsatsen är härledd ur allmänna principer och därför osäker.
- protection against integrity interferencedecisive»Vi motsätter oss alla lagar som innebär oproportionerliga ingrepp i integriteten.« (party programme ↗)“We oppose all laws that mean disproportionate interference with integrity.”
- safe working environment for staff»Alla har rätt till friskvård och en god fysisk och psykosocial arbetsmiljö.« (party programme ↗)“Everyone has the right to healthcare and a good physical and psychosocial working environment.”
- insight into authority exercise»Det ska finnas god medborgerlig insyn i all rättskipande och rättsvårdande verksamhet« (party programme ↗)“There shall be good public insight into all judicial and legal administration activities”
The plan does not address solo work during body searches, but it requires that every restriction on an individual's integrity shall be proportionate and that integrity protection is an indispensable part of an open society.
Plan documents: party programme · 2022 manifesto
Reasoning and quotes
The plan does not address solo work during body searches, but it requires that every restriction on an individual's integrity shall be proportionate and that integrity protection is an indispensable part of an open society. A body search conducted by a single staff member lacks the control that makes the procedure legally safe for the person being searched. The plan's commitment to better working conditions in care and welfare points in the same direction, but the conclusion is derived and uncertain.
Original (Swedish)
Planen behandlar inte ensamarbete vid kroppsvisitation, men den kräver att varje inskränkning av den enskildes integritet ska vara proportionerlig och att integritetsskyddet är en omistlig del av ett öppet samhälle. En kroppsvisitation utförd av en ensam medarbetare saknar den kontroll som gör ingreppet rättssäkert för den besökte. Planens åtagande om bättre arbetsvillkor i vård och omsorg pekar åt samma håll, men slutsatsen är härledd och osäker.
- proportionality in integrity intrusionsdecisive»Det måste finnas en proportionalitet mellan lagstiftningens inskränkning av medborgarnas integritet och lagarnas syfte.« (party programme ↗)“There must be proportionality between legislation's restriction of citizens' integrity and the laws' purpose.”
- strong integrity protection»Ett starkt integritetsskydd är därför en omistlig del av ett öppet och demokratiskt samhälle.« (party programme ↗)“Strong integrity protection is therefore an indispensable part of an open and democratic society.”
- better working conditions»Bättre arbetsvillkor leder till bättre vård.« (2022 manifesto ↗)“Better working conditions lead to better care.”
- the individual's perspective»Samhällets aktörer ska inta individens perspektiv.« (party programme ↗)“Society's actors shall take the individual's perspective.”
The plan establishes that measures that negatively affect personal integrity are only justified if an opposing interest weighs significantly more heavily and the measure is effective, which argues for strong and unconditional guarantees for body search.
Plan documents: party programme · 2022 manifesto
Reasoning and quotes
The plan establishes that measures that negatively affect personal integrity are only justified if an opposing interest weighs significantly more heavily and the measure is effective, which argues for strong and unconditional guarantees for body search. The plan also wants to strengthen oversight of authorities' exercise of power against individuals and protect public employees against exposure. The question of solo work is not addressed, however, so the conclusion is derived.
Original (Swedish)
Planen slår fast att åtgärder som negativt påverkar den personliga integriteten bara är berättigade om ett motstående intresse väger uppenbart tyngre och åtgärden är effektiv, vilket talar för starka och undantagslösa garantier vid kroppsvisitation. Planen vill också stärka tillsynen över myndigheters maktutövning mot enskilda och skydda offentliganställda mot utsatthet. Frågan om ensamarbete behandlas dock inte, så slutsatsen är härledd.
- proportionality in integrity violationsdecisive»Åtgärder som påverkar den personliga integriteten negativt är endast berättigade om ett motstående intresse väger uppenbart tyngre och åtgärden är effektiv.« (party programme ↗)“Measures that negatively affect personal integrity are only justified if an opposing interest weighs significantly more heavily and the measure is effective.”
- dignity and integrity»Den enskildes värdighet och integritet får inte kränkas.« (party programme ↗)“The individual's dignity and integrity must not be violated.”
- strengthened oversight of authority exercise»Tillsynen över myndigheternas maktutövning mot enskilda behöver utvecklas genom starka tillsynsmyndigheter för bland annat polis, kriminalvård och socialtjänst.« (party programme ↗)“Oversight of authorities' exercise of power against individuals needs to be developed through strong supervisory authorities for, among others, police, criminal care and social services.”
- protection for public employees»Socialsekreterare och andra offentliganställda ska skyddas mot förföljelse och utsatthet genom att ett nytt brott – tjänstemannaförföljelse – införs.« (2022 manifesto ↗)“Social workers and other public employees shall be protected against persecution and exposure by introducing a new crime – official persecution.”
The plan takes no explicit position on what the committee actually decided — often because the committee's reason was procedural. The stance is derived and fully cited, but it does not show the party broke a commitment.
The plan requires that social policy measures be characterized by respect for personal integrity and that intrusions into the individual's private sphere be avoided.
Plan documents: party programme
Reasoning and quotes
The plan requires that social policy measures be characterized by respect for personal integrity and that intrusions into the individual's private sphere be avoided. Body search is such an intrusion, and a requirement that it never be carried out alone strengthens both the searched person's legal security and staff protection, which according to the plan should cover both physical and mental health. The plan does not specifically address searches, which is why the conclusion is derived.
Original (Swedish)
Planen kräver att socialpolitiska insatser präglas av respekt för den personliga integriteten och att intrång i den enskildes fredade sfär undviks. Kroppsvisitation är ett sådant intrång, och ett krav på att aldrig utföra det ensam stärker både den visiterades rättssäkerhet och personalens skydd, som enligt planen ska omfatta såväl fysisk som psykisk hälsa. Planen behandlar inte visitationer särskilt, varför slutsatsen är härledd.
- respect for personal integritydecisive»Socialpolitiska insatser måste präglas av respekt för den personliga integriteten« (party programme ↗)“Social policy measures must be characterized by respect for personal integrity”
- protection of the private sphere»Intrång i den fredade sfär som varje person bör vara garanterad innebär att den personliga integriteten kränks.« (party programme ↗)“Intrusion into the private sphere that every person should be guaranteed means that personal integrity is violated.”
- staff's physical and mental health»Ett väl fungerande arbetarskydd och god arbetsmiljö ska ta hänsyn till såväl fysisk som psykisk hälsa hos arbetstagarna.« (party programme ↗)“Well-functioning worker protection and good working environment shall take into account both physical and mental health of employees.”
- coercion only in regulated cases»Utredning och behandling får inte ske mot patientens vilja annat än vid vårdintyg.« (party programme ↗)“Investigation and treatment may not take place against the patient's will except by medical certificate.”
The plan takes no explicit position on what the committee actually decided — often because the committee's reason was procedural. The stance is derived and fully cited, but it does not show the party broke a commitment.
The plan does not address solo work during body searches.
Plan documents: 2022 manifesto · party programme
Reasoning and quotes
The plan does not address solo work during body searches. Nearest commitments are that activities for placed young people shall function and that more shall be taken into care – that is, institutions shall meet their task practically. A total ban on all solo work in client-facing contacts is an arrangement the plan does not support, while the demand for presence when possible is included in the plan's view of safety.
Original (Swedish)
Planen berör inte ensamarbete vid kroppsvisitationer. Närmast liggande åtaganden är att verksamheterna för placerade unga ska fungera och att fler ska omhändertas – alltså att institutionerna ska klara sitt uppdrag praktiskt. Ett totalförbud mot allt ensamarbete i klientnära kontakter är en ordning planen inte ger stöd för, medan kravet på närvaro när det är möjligt ryms i planens syn på trygghet.
- functioning compulsory caredecisive»Säkerställa att fler omhändertas enligt LVU« (2022 manifesto ↗)“Ensure that more are taken into care under LVU”
- quality for placed youth»Se till att placerade ungdomar ges bättre utbildning« (2022 manifesto ↗)“See to it that placed youth are given better education”
- security and integrity»Frihet och trygghet går hand i hand.« (party programme ↗)“Freedom and security go hand in hand.”
The plan takes no position on solo work during body searches.
Plan documents: 2022 manifesto · party programme
Reasoning and quotes
The plan takes no position on solo work during body searches. The closest commitments are that security and safety in working life shall increase and that staff safety in operations with threats and violence shall be strengthened, which argue for an unconditional requirement that two persons are present. The conclusion is uncertain since an outright ban could also limit the operation's ability to conduct checks.
Original (Swedish)
Planen tar inte ställning till ensamarbete vid kroppsvisitation. Närmast liggande åtaganden är att tryggheten och säkerheten i arbetslivet ska öka och att personalens trygghet i verksamheter med hot och våld ska stärkas, vilket talar för ett undantagslöst krav på att två personer är närvarande. Slutsatsen är osäker eftersom ett totalförbud också kan begränsa verksamhetens möjlighet att genomföra kontroller.
- safety in working lifedecisive»Öka tryggheten och säkerheten i arbetslivet« (2022 manifesto ↗)“Increase security and safety in working life”
- safe staff in client-facing work»Öka tryggheten för vårdpersonal och på akutmottagningar« (2022 manifesto ↗)“Increase security for care staff and in emergency departments”
- worker health first»anställdas välmående får inte äventyras av kortsiktiga vinstintressen.« (party programme ↗)“employees' well-being must not be jeopardized by short-term profit interests.”
The plan takes no explicit position on what the committee actually decided — often because the committee's reason was procedural. The stance is derived and fully cited, but it does not show the party broke a commitment.
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Sources and documents
- The committee report on riksdagen.se (2023/24:SoU25)
- Committee report full text (HB01SoU25)
- Per-MP voting data (API)
- Case status (API)
Documents under consideration
- Motion 2023/24:2830 — med anledning av prop. 2023/24:81 Begränsningar och kontroll i fråga om elektroniska kommunikationstjänster och besök på särskilda ungdomshem av Fredrik Lundh Sammeli m.fl. (S)
- Motion 2023/24:2834 — med anledning av prop. 2023/24:81 Begränsningar och kontroll i fråga om elektroniska kommunikationstjänster och besök på särskilda ungdomshem av Maj Karlsson m.fl. (V)
- Motion 2023/24:2837 — med anledning av prop. 2023/24:81 Begränsningar och kontroll i fråga om elektroniska kommunikationstjänster och besök på särskilda ungdomshem av Martina Johansson m.fl. (C)
- Motion 2023/24:2838 — med anledning av prop. 2023/24:81 Begränsningar och kontroll i fråga om elektroniska kommunikationstjänster och besök på särskilda ungdomshem av Ulrika Westerlund m.fl. (MP)
- Proposition 2023/24:81 — Begränsningar och kontroll i fråga om elektroniska kommunikationstjänster och besök på särskilda ungdomshem
Source: The Swedish Parliament