There is a positive movement happening in the investigation of serious violent crimes, resulting in improved investigation techniques and a reduction in investigation time, according to Erik Widstrand, acting deputy regional police chief in Stockholm.
This progress is due to closer cooperation with specially appointed prosecutors, increased national resources, and prioritization of cases by the National Forensic Centre (NFC). As a result, DNA answers can sometimes be obtained within a day, and weapon reports and other investigations are completed much faster than before.
The public and parents have also become more willing to provide information to the police, which has greatly assisted in investigations. Alongside this, there has been a shift in focus. The police are now looking forward instead of backward, aiming to prevent future crimes and solve those that have already occurred. This change in approach allows them to handle more cases with fewer investigators.
Widstrand highlights the success of the special effort called Frank against street violence in the Stockholm region. As part of this effort, 200 weapons, including around 40 automatic carbines, were seized. Additionally, they confiscated around ten hand grenades, 300 kilos of dynamite, and approximately 80 explosive cartridges. Currently, there are about 440 people in custody, and a hundred preliminary investigations are in progress, with around 40 expected to result in prosecutions soon.
At the national level, a similar effort called Frigg is underway. Since February 1, 2023, within the Frigg initiative, 57 weapons, 104 million in cash, and 790 kilos of narcotics have been seized. Furthermore, they have confiscated 11 explosive devices and detained 80 criminal individuals.
Both Widstrand and Nygårds point to the recruitment of very young individuals as a significant problem in the criminal landscape. These young individuals are controlled by others who aren’t directly involved in weapons or drugs. These controlling figures often operate from abroad, instructing young people to carry out illegal activities. Widstrand emphasizes that the judiciary cannot handle this issue alone. Alarming cases include 11-year-olds receiving mobile phones from sellers and 15-year-olds being picked up from football practice to commit acts of violence. There have even been instances of 14-year-olds possessing assault rifles. Widstrand stresses the need for collaboration with municipalities, regions, and county administrations to address this issue effectively.
According to NOA’s assessment, criminal groups recruit approximately 1000 people each year. These individuals live by different standards and behave in a different way, presenting a challenge for law enforcement. The goal is to reduce the attractiveness of the criminal life and environment, encouraging children and young people to opt-out. Cooperation from various entities is crucial in achieving this goal.
Erik Widstrand participated in the press conference as the acting deputy regional police chief in Stockholm, along with chief prosecutor Eva Thunegard and Hampus Nygårds, deputy chief at NOA.
There is a “positive movement” going on where the investigation of serious violent crimes is getting better, and the investigation time is being halved, according to Erik Widstrand, acting deputy regional police chief in Stockholm.
This depends, among other things, on closer cooperation with specially appointed prosecutors, greater national resources, and that the cases are prioritized by NFC, the National Forensic Centre. This means that you can sometimes get DNA answers within a day, and weapon reports and other investigations much faster than before.
The public and parents have also started to turn to the police with information to a greater extent, which helps in the investigations.
The focus has also changed.
– We look forward instead of back, and try to prevent the next crime and thereby solve the crimes that have occurred. We combine cases and can investigate many more cases with fewer investigators, he says.
Widstrand says that within the special effort Frank against street violence in the Stockholm region seized 200 weapons, of which about 40 automatic carbines of the type used in Farsta last weekend.
They have also seized about ten hand grenades, 300 kilos of dynamite and about 80 explosive cartridges.
Around 440 people are in custody and around a hundred preliminary investigations are underway, of which 40 are believed to be prosecuted shortly.
At the same time, a national effort called Frigg is underway.
– Since February 1, 2023, we within Frigg have seized 57 weapons, 104 million in cash and 790 kilos of narcotics, says Hampus Nygårds, deputy director at NOA, National Operative Department.
They have also seized 11 explosive devices and detained 80 criminal individuals, according to Nygårds.
Both Widstrand and Nygårds point to the large new recruitment of very young individuals as the major problem. Crime is controlled by others, who do not themselves deal with weapons or drugs, sometimes from abroad, and who let the young people take the hits.
– Will the judiciary handle this? No, not ourselves. We see an alarming number of people committing crimes, 11-year-olds being provided with mobile phones by various sellers, 15-year-olds being picked up from football practice to go and shoot someone. We see 14-year-olds with assault rifles they can barely carry. Collaboration with municipalities, regions and county administrations will be extremely important, says Erik Widstrand.
According to NOA’s assessment, it is approx 1000 people annually who are newly recruited by the criminal groups.
– There are a large number of individuals who live according to other standards, behave in a different way. We are lagging behind, we have to cope, and reduce the attractiveness so that children and young people opt out of the criminal life and environment. There are many of us who want to help. There is another life where you don’t risk a prison sentence, where you aren’t forced to shoot someone and where you and your family don’t have to worry about someone coming to get you, says Hampus Nygårds.
Erik Widstrand participated in the press conferenceacting deputy regional police chief Stockholm, and chief prosecutor Eva Thunegard and Hampus Nygårds, deputy chief at Noa.