Politicians and police officers have time and again highlighted preventive coercive measures as a method needed to combat gang crime. From today, Sunday, it is free for the police to start using. This means that the police can secretly intercept or monitor people for preventive purposes – without an investigation into a crime that has already been committed being initiated. The police hope for results shortly.
– The goal is, for example, to be able to prevent and knock out weapons depots and, in the best case, to be able to act when murder squads are on their way out by stopping vehicles, says Jale Poljarevius, head of intelligence for the Mitt region.
The police’s resources for covert means of coercion have already been strained. However, Charlotta Höglund, head of the intelligence unit at Noa, does not want to see the new methods as another task.
– It is rather an extended opportunity to achieve effect. If you can prevent murder and other serious crime, you also save at the other end, she tells TT.
Reinforced with more staff
Poljarevius says that the police have reinforced with more resources to be able to start using the new methods. He cannot go into how many employees are involved and what skills are needed, citing security reasons.
That the new law is now coming into force, can that signal in itself limit gang criminals and discourage crime?
– I wish it were so, but I don’t think so. Many times it is about unscrupulous people who are prepared to do anything and then a law is no obstacle. But others will perhaps be more cautious, so it may hit differently.
From the union point of view, the new law is welcomed, but at the same time they are calling for a broad analysis from the Police Authority which will find out what kind of competence is needed. They expect that new hires and training efforts will be needed.