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Amanda and her family are forced to pay a fine to the criminal network – otherwise they threaten to harm her teenage son.
Prime Minister Ulf Kristersson pays tribute to the family’s courage in telling the story.
– These are crimes that are not seen and heard at all as much as the shots and the spectacular explosions, he says.
For over a year, Amanda and her teenage son Johan have been blackmailed by a criminal network. They have already paid hundreds of thousands of kroner, all because Johan refused to store drugs for the gang.
– We are a well-to-do middle-class family in Stockholm’s inner city – this can affect anyone, says Amanda.
And they are not alone.
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full screen Amanda’s son was blackmailed by a criminal network. For over a year, the family paid hundreds of thousands of kroner to the gang – so that he would not be murdered. Photo: Graphics/Paul Wallander
Both the police and social services say that they have noticed an increase in cases like these since the wave of violence started in 2023 and that the problem has spread in the country.
The invisible crimes: “That no one dares to talk about”
After the article was published, many people in a similar situation have come forward with stories similar to what Amanda and Johan are experiencing, and the reactions have been many.
Prime Minister Ulf Kristersson is one of those who reacted.
– Society has failed this family who saw no other way out than to pay the gang. And it is a clear example of crime growing into other businesses. Pools of blood are bad enough but they are visible anyway, these are crimes that no one wants or dares to talk about. There are many people who are blackmailed who absolutely do not want to tell out of fear, he says.
– That is why it is very good that they tell about this, it is a crime that is not seen and heard at all as much as the shots and the spectacular explosions.
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full screen The Prime Minister praises Amanda and her family for daring to tell their story: “There is no other way to solve this.” Photo: Björn Lindahl
What do you want to say to others in the same situation as Amanda and Johan?
– I understand that they won’t think my answer is enough – but you have to go to the police. There is no other way to solve this. These are deeply unpleasant situations but it does not resolve itself. When they get families on the hook, they don’t want to let go, says Ulf Kristersson.
He says the article both surprised him and didn’t.
– I have not heard of this exact situation before. But in recent months, and not least since the new national police chief took office, we have had several discussions about what is now worrying us all. Partly all the fraud crimes that are on the rise and that are currently bringing in more money than drugs.
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full screen Kristersson believes that anonymous witnesses can be a solution. A bill that both the Norwegian Judicial Agency and the JO have been critical of. Photo: Jessica Gow/TT
– On the one hand, we are concerned about what the police call abuse in legal proceedings. It’s an avalanche problem where criminals sit and watch preliminary investigations and then go after people who might testify. That you threaten people in order to get money or so that they will not be involved in solving crimes, says Ulf Kristersson.
The proposal: Anonymous witnesses
The punishment has been toughened for the crimes of illegal threats and extortion. But Ulf Kristersson wants above all to highlight the bill on anonymous witnesses, that is, being able to testify completely anonymously.
– It will increase people’s willingness to talk to the police and prosecutors. Anonymous testimony alone will not be enough for a conviction, but if you are going to get access to these gang criminal people, sometimes anonymity will be needed.
About Amanda and Johan’s situation, he says:
– We will continue to strike the gangs, until families who are subjected to such brutality feel safe that it is the criminals who will be deprived of their liberty for a very long time.
FACTS Where is help available?
check All municipalities and regions offer support to children and families, even if it may look a little different in the country.
check In an emergency situation, contact the police on 114 14. You can also report one crimes anonymously on the police website and leave tips.
check There are also various helplines that children can call:
square1 BRIS, Children’s rights in society, at 116 111.
square1 Crime victim hotline: 116 006.
check Several municipalities have Youth Services which have emergency telephones, in many cases open around the clock. In Stockholm, the number is 08-508 25 481.
check Social services also offer support to parents of vulnerable children and also to the children themselves. To talk to social services, contact the social welfare office in your home municipality. The municipality’s website must have phone numbers and other ways you can contact them.
check On The police’s website also has information both for children whom criminal networks tried to contact and for parents.
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