Stockholm: Sweden, a nation with a population of 10.6 million, is grappling with a significant gang crime issue, as police have identified approximately 17,500 active gang criminals within its borders. Additionally, around 50,000 individuals are believed to have affiliations with gang activities.
According to Bangladesh Sangbad Sangstha, the Scandinavian country has been contending with a rise in violent crime linked to criminal networks for over a decade. Near daily occurrences of shootings and bombings are often attributed to gang conflicts over drug market control and score-settling. The Swedish government, seeking to address this crisis, commissioned the police to provide a comprehensive overview, with an initial report in 2024 estimating the number of gang members at 14,000. However, police commissioner Petra Lundh explained during a press conference that the method of calculation has since been revised.
Lundh clarified that there are no definitive signs of an increase or decrease in gang numbers, despite this year’s figures appearing higher. She acknowledged that the assessment might be conservative due to the stringent criteria used to define active gang involvement. Lundh emphasized that the number of active gang criminals and their associates remains alarmingly high.
The Swedish government, led by Prime Minister Ulf Kristersson’s right-wing administration since 2022, has prioritized tackling crime. Measures introduced include granting police extended powers and implementing strategies to address youth crime, such as plans to lower the age of criminal responsibility from 15 to 13. Other initiatives involve creating special prison wards for youths, abolishing leniency for young offenders, and empowering police to take coercive actions against children involved in criminal activities.
Despite a decline in deadly shootings, the country continues to experience frequent public shootings and bombings, sometimes resulting in innocent casualties. While prosecutions have increased in recent years, Lundh emphasized that the solution to this societal threat extends beyond law enforcement.
Lundh called for preventive measures to address the influx of children and young people willing to engage in criminal acts. She stressed the importance of early intervention to curb the rise of gang-related activities in Sweden.