The police: About 200 acts of violence have been prevented

Published 28 August 2024 at 10.43

Domestic. The police authority assesses that during 2023 and 2024 it has averted or prevented around 200 acts of violence planned by organized crime. This includes, among other things, shootings, explosions and arson attacks.

Share the article

TwittraShare

During June–July 2024, a particularly intense period, the police estimate that around 20 acts of violence could be stopped, of which 16 have led to the initiation of preliminary investigations.

There is probably also a dark figure and the number of averted acts of violence is likely to be higher.

– We take no risks when it comes to life. If we see circumstances that point to an imminent act of violence, we act immediately, says Johan Olsson, head of the national operational department at the Swedish Police Agency.

The ability to prevent acts of violence involves, among other things, that the police have changed their working methods and are faster at gather, share and analyze information and detect patterns and anomalies.

“The police also have good preparedness to deal with acts of revenge and increased knowledge of the young people who are at risk of committing acts of violence. Experience, knowledge and methods have been developed, among other things, through the national special event Frigg,” the police write on their website.

Doubling of charges
All events that have been assessed do not result in the initiation of a preliminary investigation into attempted or preparation for murder or public-dangerous destruction. This may be due to the fact that the incident is classified as a weapon crime or that the individual involved is under 15 years of age. Statistics from the Public Prosecutor's Office show, however, that the number of prosecutions for preparation for, attempts at or incitement to murder and manslaughter has almost doubled in the last three years, from August 2021 through July 31, 2024.

That an act of violence has averted means that the police intervenes in close connection with the commission of a crime. That an act of violence has been prevented means that the intervention takes place earlier, i.e. during planning.