Stärkt barnrätt med barnfridsbrottslagen? De upplevda effekterna i arbetet med barnavårdsärenden i koppling till den nya barnfridsbrottslagen

Sammanfattning: Background: The effects of children witnessing violence in theirs close relationships are according to previous research very extensive and can in many cases have devastating and lifelong consequences for the children in their upcoming close relationships with other people. The Swedish legal system has in different ways tried to strengthen the rights of children who are victims of witnessing violence in their close relationships and this new “child peace” law is meant to act as a further strengthening of the children’s position in the eyes of the law. Which in turn is intended to make it easier for the children to get redress and a favorable judgment in court against their perpetrator. Objective: The aim of this study is to examine how childcare investigators experience the new “child peace crime” that entered into force by law in the summer of 2021 and how the perceive that it has affected their way of working with the investigation of childcare matters were the child in question has witnessed violence in close relationships. Methods: The study is based on four individual qualitative interviews with three childcare investigators within the police and one social worker within social services. All the respondents in this study are working in the same county. Results: The results from this study show that it is still very early to say and to see what impact the new law has had on the child investigators work with children who has witnessed violence in their close relationships. There are many factors that play a role in the implementation of the new law within the two authorities and how it directly effects the child investigators work on a daily basis. Although the implementation is in a very early stage, it appears that the children’s positions in the investigation of their case has strengthened significantly according to the studies respondents. Conclusion: The new child peace law is a step in the right direction in the matter of children’s rights in the eyes of the Swedish court system and their ability to get redress against their perpetrators of violence. We need to make sure to follow-up on the process of new laws like this and see how they are implemented into the work of child investigators in their daily work and evaluate that process to see if there is something that needs to be done differently or if the law needs a complement or further adjustments.