In line with the increase in fatal shootings, the police have increasingly started to use so-called preliminary investigation restrictions, Kalla fakta’s mapping shows. Last year, the rule was applied in over 57,000 cases.
When a perpetrator is suspected of several crimes, the police can choose to investigate only the most serious suspicions. The purpose is to save time and resources because the length of the sentence is not affected anyway.
– It reflects the development of crime in society to a large extent. And a huge burden on the legal system, including the police, says Minister of Justice Gunnar Strömmer (M).
But the system has received criticism because the crime victim is left without redress and finds it difficult to obtain compensation. Last year, the rule was applied in over 57,000 cases, compared to 7,500 cases in 2013.
– I understand that it is an important part of the recovery that one’s crime is investigated and preferably that the criminal is prosecuted. We try to address that problem in different ways, says Gunnar Strömmer.
No suggestions for change
When a state investigation into mass crime was recently presented, there were no proposals for changes regarding the police’s preliminary investigation restrictions. The investigator said that the system works well. But Gunnar Strömmer tells Kalla fakta that the use may decrease in the future as a result of upcoming changes in the law.
– More crimes must be counted in full. Which also means that more crimes that might be sorted out today can be taken care of and have the consequences that are desirable from the point of view of the crime victim, says Minister of Justice Gunnar Strömmer.