Fewer Swedes dare to stop ongoing crimes

Published 16 May 2024
- By Editorial Staff
Fewer Swedes also believe that they themselves would get help in an emergency.

About half of the Swedes say they are less likely to show civil courage compared to a year ago, according to a survey by tabloid Aftonbladet/Demoskop. People are particularly reluctant to help in the event of violent crime.

The survey shows that 22 percent are more likely to intervene in crimes, and that 28 percent feel hesitant or unsure, compared to a year ago. 50 percent of Swedes say they are less likely to help with ongoing crime today than they were last year.

Johan Martinsson, Head of Opinion Research at Demoskop, believes that the murder of 39-year-old Mikael in Skärholmen, Stockholm, may have affected Swedes’ attitudes. Mikael was shot after being provoked and then confronting an immigrant gang while on his way to the swimming pool with his 12-year-old son. Mikael died shortly after the incident.

This investigation was conducted shortly after the murder in Skärholmen, which of course aroused a lot of emotion. But I don’t think the change is solely due to that incident, but to overall impressions from the past few years, he told the Swedish tabloid Aftonbladet.

Fewer people are counting on help

Confidence in getting help in emergencies has also declined among Swedes. Five years ago, Demoskop asked whether people dared to trust others to intervene in emergencies. When the question was asked again, trust has decreased for robbery and assault but increased for sexual harassment.

The survey, by Demoskop on behalf of Aftonbladet, was conducted during the period April 16-22, 2024 with 1,543 interviews of people aged 16 to 79.

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