Sweden’s alarming increase in fatal shootings in criminal environments stands out in the Nordics and in Europe. “A catastrophic situation,” says Crime Commissioner Gunnar Appelgren:
– 60 murdered people in criminal environments is a horrible number. In ten years it has gone from a couple of people per year to 60 – and the year is not over yet, he says.
However, the trend can be reversed, Appelgren believes – but not with today’s politics.
– We need help from the judiciary to prevent new murders, increase the risk of detection and become more robust and capable homicide investigators. But it won’t help if we don’t stop the supply of boys who are prepared to kill other boys to be someone, he says and continues:
– There is political short-termism in this matter. If we are to make a real difference, we need to focus on the crime prevention measures in dealing with individuals from the age of 3 to supporting dysfunctional families and areas in a powerful way.
Harsher punishment is not the solution
The government has talked about a paradigm shift and “the biggest offensive ever against organized crime”.
However, Gunnar Appelgren is critical that such investments would produce the desired results.
– Harsher punishments can have an effect on an individual level, but if you are not convicted, harsh punishments have no effect whatsoever.
Only 20-25 percent of murders lead to a verdict today, and barely 10 percent of attempted murders. In addition, access to weapons and the motivation to commit crimes is high, despite increased police presence and an increased risk of detection, says Appelgren.
– You have somehow lost hope – you feel that you will not survive your 25th birthday and then it doesn’t matter.
Must invest in prevention
Then the only solution, according to Appelgren, is to invest in increasing the risk of detection at an early age. It requires comprehensive and long-term crime prevention solutions.
– I would like to see proper community participation and really create a paradigm shift. The most important factor is that the school works and has all the support it needs.
It is also important to get the perspectives of the relatives, he believes.
– We talk a lot about numbers and shootings when we should be talking about murders and destroyed families.