On Wednesday, the government gathered the municipalities in Stockholm County, the region and the national police chief and the police leadership in Stockholm for a meeting.
— Of course, it happened against the background of the shocking days that lie behind Stockholm, in terms of shootings and explosions, says Minister of Justice Gunnar Strömmer (M)
Many of those arrested in the wave of violence that broke out in January are young people, in several cases children under the age of 15, which was particularly touched upon at the meeting.
Poor growth
The Stockholm police has received support from the national level and other police regions to handle the situation.
— Now there is more opportunity to prevent and prevent shootings and explosions. It is very urgent to break this spiral of violence, says Strömmer.
At the same time, it is a fact that the growth that has taken place in the police overall in the country has not taken place in Stockholm.
According to the Minister of Justice, this may be due to the fact that the capital means a vulnerable working situation, but also higher living costs and tougher competition from other employers.
“Stockholm is an unusually complex and demanding place to be a police officer, even by Swedish standards,” he says.
— I want to ensure that the police have the resources they need to break the most urgent wave of violence.
More cameras
The government has given the police the task of doubling the number of fixed surveillance cameras over two years, they are forcing legislation on the municipalities’ ability to set up surveillance cameras.
Soon there will also be an additional directive for investigations to remove barriers to confidentiality that will make schools and social services obliged to provide information to the police if it is a matter of preventing or fighting crime.
Gunnar Strömmer has the impression that the Stockholm police are now mobilizing all available resources against the gangs.
— To take control and defuse this situation as soon as possible. Now they have taken hold of that operation in a good way, how lasting that effect will be remains to be seen.
— In the long term, everyone understands: Reversing this trend will of course take time.