How to tackle escalating violence in Sweden?
Sweden has been rocked by gang crime again: three young men were shot dead, and a woman and her toddler have suffered serious injuries in an explosives attack on a residential building in Stockholm. Commentators discuss how to combat the problem.
Society must not be numbed
Göteborgs-Posten voices concern about Sweden's future:
“There have been almost 800 bomb attacks since 2018. An unprecedented number in our own history and in Europe. ... The criminal networks are battling each other for influence and power. ... But every explosion also signals the powerlessness of the state. The attacks remind us that the constitutional state lacks the ability to protect its citizens. ... It's vital that we don't become resigned to this situation and start to see the bombings as something normal. ... For a country in Europe and a country at peace, this is simply too extreme.”
A necessary crackdown
Expressen approves of Justice Minister Gunnar Strömmer's plans for tougher measures such as wiretapping against underage suspects:
“Within the space of a few years, the number of minors under 15 who have become suspects in murder cases has risen by almost 500 percent. ... These reforms are vital. As Strömmer admits, they are an encroachment on personal integrity. According to the Children's Convention, which is now Swedish law, a child's right to integrity must be respected. But in a society like Sweden's where children are being recruited by hardened criminals for contract killings just as they would be for ordinary summer jobs, this won't work. It's in children's best interests if the police can thwart plans before another child commits murder or is killed.”
Inadequate social measures
The country needs to put more effort and resources in preventive measures, Aftonbladet urges:
“Social services and schools must be provided with the necessary resources to prevent children at risk from slipping into crime. ... State funding [under the current centre-right government] is inadequate, which is severely undermining crime prevention work. The previous social democratic government was not much better. Government initiatives to help local authorities prevent recruitment have been radically reduced. ... It's a disgrace that the parties have not yet been able to agree on the comprehensive measures needed to combat these gangs.”