The police chief on how the violence can be stopped: “A state of war”

Sweden ranks as the most criminal country in Northern Europe.
In order to reverse the trend and stop the wave of violence, the whole society must mobilize against the gangs, says police chief and intelligence chief Jale Poljarevius to Efter fem:
– Unfortunately, this is somewhat reminiscent of a low-intensity state of war.

Sweden ranks as the most criminal country in northern Europe, according to a new survey, reports SvD. Uppsala has been one of several particularly affected areas in the wave of violence. The police chief and head of intelligence for police region Mitt, Jale Poljarevius, has worked as a police officer since the 90s. And he sees that the deadly violence has changed since then.

– Then it was serious criminals who settled with each other. The death toll and injuries were very targeted within the groupings. It didn’t affect ordinary people the way it does today. Today, unfortunately, many relatives who have nothing to do with the conflict are affected, he says, adding:

– Many of the victims we see today come from other sources than serious crime.

That way you can reverse the trend

Jale Poljarevius emphasizes that the whole of society must be mobilized to reverse the trend.

– That only one or twelve authorities should be responsible for this, and that certain individuals should be left out, it will not work. Unfortunately, this is somewhat reminiscent of a low-intensity state of war, and then we have to mobilize the whole of society in this work.

Despite the gloomy situation, he believes that it will be possible to turn the tide.

– It becomes some kind of paradoxical relationship. On the one hand, we must dare to face the grim reality head on. While we should never ever lose hope.

To stop the wave of violence, a balance must be found between repressive work, locking up criminals and a “soft motherly hand” that receives people who drop out and are not recruited, Poljarevius believes.

– A hard armored fist that locks up those who don’t want to drop out and a motherly hand that welcomes defectors and makes sure that new recruitment doesn’t take place, he says, adding that society must at the same time offer other alternatives to the criminal life.