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https://nordictimes.com/the-nordics/sweden/swedish-shootings-cautionary-tale-in-un-report/

Sweden

Swedish shootings cautionary tale in UN report

Deteriorating safety

Published 17 December 2023
– By Editorial Staff
Genre image - Swedish police van.
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The latest UN report on lethal violence notes that some 458,000 people were murdered around the world last year. The report also highlights Sweden and its many gang-related shootings as a European horror story.

“Sweden has experienced unprecedented levels of gang violence and firearm-related deaths in recent years”, the report states.

In the international report, Sweden has its own fact box. It notes that the number of murders with firearms has risen sharply in recent years and that Sweden has a very high European level of fatal shootings.

“Sweden has experienced unprecedented levels of gang violence and firearm-related deaths in recent years. There were 391 shootings in Sweden, 63 of which were fatal in 2022. The Swedish National Council for Crime Prevention reported that Sweden had among the highest levels of firearm-related deaths in a study of over 20 European countries”, the report states.

The report was prepared by the United Nations Office on Drugs and Crime (UNODC). Photo: facsimile/UNODC

“This increase in the number of firearm homicides is related to criminal milieux in socially disadvantaged areas in the country. About 8 out of 10 homicides in Sweden occur in criminal milieux. Moreover, a significant share of all reported homicides is committed by young males aged 20–29. Another possible contributing factor is something called the ‘social contagion effect’, when one shooting leads to another”, it notes.

Gangs and drug trafficking

It points out that the rising number of murders is thought to be linked to criminal gangs and illegal drug markets, but that Sweden does not officially provide estimates of the proportion of reported murders that can be linked to gang crime.

“In Northern Europe, for example, the homicide rate in relation to all the different homicide mechanisms has gone down since 2016, with the exception of the rate of homicide perpetrated with a firearm, which has remained at the same level. This does not apply to Sweden, however, where the number of homicides perpetrated with a firearm has increased threefold since 2010. A study conducted by the Swedish National Council for Crime Prevention has shown that the illegal gun market has become easier to access and that the availability of guns has been associated with violence within the criminal milieu”, it says.

Outdated data

It can also be mentioned that the report is based on data from 2021 and 2022, so the high number of fatal shootings in the Stockholm area last year are not included. In the next report, the statistics for Sweden will likely be even bleaker.

– The report will have to address changes in trends. At the same time, international interest in developments in Sweden is quite high. Put simply, if it happens in Sweden, it can happen anywhere… Sweden is a country with strong institutions and a strong welfare state. Then you want to learn from what happens here so that you don’t get the same development in your own countries, Amir Rostami, professor of criminology, commented the report in an interview with GP.

Editorial Staff
editorial@nordictimes.com

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https://nordictimes.com/the-nordics/sweden/sweden-sets-new-records-in-cocaine-seizures/

Sweden

Sweden sets new records in cocaine seizures

Deteriorating safety

Published 7 January 2025
– By Editorial Staff
Cocaine - a plague and a scourge on society
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Sweden is on track for a new record year in cocaine seizures, with almost 1.5 tons seized in 2024. The dramatic increase, which spans over a decade, reflects a global surge in cocaine production and Sweden’s role as a transit country for drug trafficking.

Despite extensive customs efforts, smuggling remains a major problem.

In 2024, Swedish Customs seized record amounts of cocaine. Between 2014 and 2023, cocaine seizures increased by over 4,000%, says Martin Norell, an expert at Swedish Customs, in an interview with the Bonnier newspaper Dagens Nyheter.

The alarming increase is part of a long-term trend: from 810 kilos in 2022, to just over a ton in 2023, and in 2024 just under 1.5 tons.

Peter Moilanen, Director of the Drug Policy Center, explains that the trend is not solely due to domestic consumption.

– The increase reflects a growing European market and Sweden’s role as a transit country, where cocaine is smuggled to other countries, he writes in a post on X.

Global production at record levels

Global cocaine production is currently reaching record levels, increasing both supply and trafficking to Europe.

Sweden has become a major transit point for the drug, putting pressure on Swedish Customs and other authorities to manage the inflow. Smuggling networks are using increasingly sophisticated methods to avoid detection.

The port of Helsingborg has been identified as one of the main entry points for cocaine smuggling into Sweden and serves as a central hub in the logistics of the drug trade, with large volumes hidden in containers and then distributed further within the country and Europe.

Although Helsingborg has become less of an attractive port for smugglers, Sweden still works well as a transit country, according to Martin Norell.

– When we clog up, smuggling moves on. It is like a living organism, it constantly finds new weaknesses.

kokain
Sweden – a transit country for cocaine smugglers. Photo: MART PRODUCTION/Pexels

More seizures – but problems remain

Despite record seizures, major problems remain for Swedish Customs. Smuggling networks take advantage of Sweden’s strategic location and work with advanced technology and well-organized logistics networks. These factors make it difficult for Customs to stop the drugs.

According to Swedish Customs, cooperation between Swedish and international authorities is crucial in order to counter the threat. At the same time, the agency emphasizes that more resources are needed to effectively deal with the increasing smuggling.

The current record year shows a clear flow of increasing cocaine smuggling to and through Sweden. With a growing international drug market and Sweden’s strategic role as a transit country, the problem remains serious.

The government has not yet commented on how it intends to strengthen resources to address the increasing scale of smuggling.

Editorial Staff
editorial@nordictimes.com

https://nordictimes.com/the-nordics/sweden/trial-begins-in-sweden-for-five-young-men-accused-of-murdering-mikael/

Sweden

Trial begins in Sweden for five young men accused of murdering Mikael

Deteriorating safety

Published 20 December 2024
– By Editorial Staff
The site of the murder of 39-year-old father Mikael Janicki was quickly filled with a sea of flowers.
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The 39-year-old father, Mikael Janicki, was shot to death in front of his 12-year-old son in Skärholmen, southern Stockholm, on April 10 this year. Five men with immigrant backgrounds are now charged, including the 18-year-old suspected of having shot Mikael.

Mikael was on his way to the swimming pool in Skärholmen with his son when he confronted a gang of youths in a pedestrian tunnel. The confrontation ended with Mikael being shot dead.

An 18-year-old man is now charged with murder and aggravated weapons offense. The prosecution describes the murder as particularly ruthless, as it took place in front of Mikael’s young son.

Ove Jäverfelt, prosecutor in the case, says that an important part of the evidence is the testimony of Mikael Janicki’s 12-year-old son.

– Among the oral evidence is the testimony of Mikael’s son, who saw the murder. He was questioned shortly after the murder, says Jäverfelt in connection with a press conference.

According to the police’s preliminary investigation, the murder was not planned, but was the result of tragic circumstances.

– Someone reportedly said something to the victim, who reacted to the remark and confronted the group in the tunnel. The situation seems to have escalated quickly said Stina Rosin, a police officer, in a comment to the tax-funded Swedish Television.

– It seems that the person we suspect of having shot, takes out the weapon in a position. Then it is fired, and as we assess it, a shot is fired next to Mikael. Then it seems that Mikael moves towards the perpetrator and is shot twice in the upper body, says prosecutor Ove Jäverfelt.

DNA on the murder weapon

The suspected murder weapon has yielded DNA from two people – the perpetrator and a person with no known connection to the murder.

The accused 18-year-old, who has been known to the police since before, has confessed to the gun crime. According to the prosecutor, he had previously test-fired the weapon.

– He has been known to us locally for a few years. Through our close collaboration, we have also been involved in actions taken against him, says Andreas Bagoly, Deputy Local Police Area Chief.

In addition to the suspected murderer, four other young men, aged between 17 and 18, are charged and released pending prosecution. Three of them are charged with aggravated protection of a criminal.

According to the indictment, two of them have, among other things, washed a bicycle that was found at the murder scene, and which may have had traces of the murdered Mikael or the perpetrator. A fifth person is charged with complicity in aggravated protection of a criminal.

According to the remand petition, all the accused are of foreign origin, mainly from the Middle East.

Editorial Staff
editorial@nordictimes.com

https://nordictimes.com/the-nordics/sweden/84-year-old-swedish-woman-raped-by-home-care-staff-municipality-didnt-care/

Sweden

84-year-old Swedish woman raped by home care staff: “Municipality didn’t care”

Deteriorating safety

Published 29 November 2024
– By Editorial Staff
Elsa goes public with her name and picture so that others will also dare to talk about the abuse they have suffered.
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Last spring, 84-year-old Elsa was raped by a man working in home care in Uppsala. Despite earlier reports of sexual abuse, the man was allowed to continue working, and the case is part of a growing scandal in which several similar cases have come to light.

Elsa is now coming forward to talk about the incident and is strongly criticizing the municipality.

– It feels important to show that this has happened to a human being. It feels like the municipality has forgotten about it, Elsa tells Uppsala Nya Tidning (UNT).

It was in the spring of 2024 that Elsa was raped by the man who worked in her home. She describes how she had previously alerted a manager in the home care service that the same man had exposed himself to her as early as the fall of 2023, but that he was allowed to continue working despite this.

– I was subjected to an unprecedented rape, and no one – no one cared about it in the municipality or home care, says Elsa.

After UNT’s reporting, it has emerged that the same manager also failed to handle another case. The woman, known in the media as “Siv”, was allegedly subjected to several sexual assaults by three different home care employees.

Despite the seriousness of the situation, her case was also neglected when the manager chose to go on vacation without arranging a meeting with “Siv”.


Translation: Elsa, who is now coming forward with her real name, was raped by a man from the home care service.

Perpetrator previously reported for sexual assault

The perpetrator who raped Elsa is also identified as a person with previous reports of sexual abuse in his previous job in home care. However, this did not prevent him from being employed by Uppsala municipality’s home care service.

Elsa expresses strong disappointment with the municipality’s actions, which she believes have not shown much willingness to take responsibility. She has neither been consulted in the municipality’s investigation nor been given access to its conclusions.

– I would feel that I still have my human dignity if they had just apologized, says Elsa, adding that she herself has had to pay for psychological help and medical travel.

At the same time, the municipality has paid out SEK 36,150 in crisis support to the staff. The prosecutor in charge has also been forced to inform Elsa that the investigation has been closed due to lack of supporting evidence.


Translation: Police close investigation into rape of Elsa.

Home care manager reported to the police

Elsa’s granddaughter, Mimmi, has now reported the home care manager to the police for misconduct: – It’s absolutely terrible. They would have come so far with an apology, Mimmi says to UNT.

The municipality’s own investigations, which have been sent to the Swedish Care Inspectorate (Ivo), show that serious misconduct has occurred. However, the municipality has not offered Elsa an apology or acknowledged its responsibility in the media. Instead, they refer to the confidentiality of individual cases.

– But there is one person at the municipality who has been good. The assistance officer, Tobias. He has cared, says Elsa.

Thanks to Elsa and her daughter Mimmi, the municipality has been forced to reform elderly care.

Politicians have moved at record speed to introduce criminal record checks for new recruits. New technologies will give older people access to the name and picture of the home care worker who visits them, and managers will be responsible for fewer staff to improve supervision.

– Maybe I can lead the way and take on the shame of other women so that they also dare to speak up, concludes Elsa.

Editorial Staff
editorial@nordictimes.com

https://nordictimes.com/the-nordics/sweden/swedish-preschools-ban-cell-phones-after-pedophile-scandals/

Sweden

Swedish preschools ban cell phones after pedophile scandals

Deteriorating safety

Published 21 November 2024
– By Editorial Staff
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After several high-profile cases where staff at Swedish preschools were convicted of photographing children for child pornography purposes, many municipal preschools have chosen to ban private cell phones altogether.

– It was because we had a case here in the municipality where pictures of children were taken, explains Elisabeth Uitto, head of operations in Östersund municipality.

Five years ago, a preschool employee in the municipality was convicted of downloading 1,600 images and videos with abuse material, and when the police cracked down on the man, it was also discovered that he had also “in a pornographic way” surreptitiously photographed a girl at the preschool where he worked, reports the state channel P4.

It was after that incident that a mobile phone ban was introduced, Uitto explains.

– Things like that must not happen. We are responsible for the safety of the children when they are with us.

“No ability to frisk”

According to the state radio review, most of the preschools in Jämtland currently have a mobile phone ban. Six out of eight municipalities respond that private cell phones are not allowed in the workplace at all, and the other two have introduced restrictions on how the phones should be used.

Both bans and restrictions are based entirely on voluntary compliance by staff, and no special controls are applied, they explain.

– It is a matter of trust. We don’t have the ability to frisk them and check if they have any hidden phones in their clothes, says Ann-Margret Selberg, preschool director in Bräcke.

According to the Swedish public broadcaster’s survey, 85 percent of 225 Swedish municipalities that responded to SR’s survey have introduced some form of mobile phone ban. 76 municipalities chose not to respond to the survey.

Editorial Staff
editorial@nordictimes.com