unsaveSave
expand-left
full screen Police chief Carin Götblad. Archive image. Photo: Tim Aro/TT
A father was shot dead in an underpass, according to media reports, after confronting a youth gang.
Police Chief Carin Götblad hopes that private individuals will continue to dare to show civil courage anyway.
– Otherwise we risk having a totally lawless society, she says.
The murder of the 39-year-old man in Skärholmen in southern Stockholm on Wednesday has upset many.
– It sounds like a fairly everyday situation, where a person gets shot. It’s terrible, says Carin Götblad, police chief at the police’s national operational department (NOA).
She believes that the fear of speaking up and intervening in crimes may increase – which is exactly what the gang criminals want.
– Therefore, we must continue to have civil courage if we are not to have a totally lawless society, says Carin Götblad.
Throughout her police career, Carin Götblad has talked about the importance of civil courage and that everyone should intervene or speak up when someone is exposed.
Abnormal behavior
– The sad thing is that we have a group of young men who have completely abnormal behavior and who lack impulse control. These people are often under the influence of drugs. They are very dangerous, but you have to remember that they are not in the majority.
Carin Götblad says that there is a difference between telling a ten-year-old who is screaming in the library and a gang under the influence of drugs in the middle of the night.
– Sometimes it is difficult to decide whether to intervene or not. The incident in Skärholmen was not a typical risk situation at night. You have to make your own assessment of the situation and you shouldn’t take unnecessary risks, she says.
You can also join several people or shout and shout that the police are on their way, if you hesitate.
Hopeful
Today, many young boys and men have access to weapons, further complicating the situation.
– I understand that the fear of weapons is great. Guns are so cheap these days that young boys can afford to buy one. Customs must be given greater powers to stop the importation of weapons and drugs, says Götblad.
Unlike Sweden, several of our neighboring countries have legislation on a general duty to assist someone in need. A similar law has also been proposed in Sweden.
– It may be time to bring up that discussion again, says Carin Götblad.
At the same time, she is hopeful.
– There are so many people reacting to the violence and I get lots of emails from people asking what they can do to help. It is strong counter-forces that are mobilised, she says.