British News Agency

In recent years, Swedish police have been dealing with bombings, attempted murders, and drug trafficking. Children are also being encouraged to commit crimes in exchange for money.

According to a recent survey by the Swedish National Police, there are 17,500 active gang members in the country, and about 50,000 others who are indirectly connected to them.

Swedish National Police Commissioner Petra Lund said, “That’s a lot. These are huge groups, including both active members and people with links to them. Comparing the figures with those from a year and a half ago, we can say that the number has not increased.”

Justice Minister Gunnar Strömmer said the mapping confirms that gangs are a widespread problem. Between 2012 and 2022, the number of armed attacks tripled. However, he noted that the figure has declined over the past three years, saying, “It’s clear that the new tools, methods, and resources are starting to have an effect. We’re on the right track, but we still have a long way to go.”

The Commissioner added that tougher penalties alone are not enough to reduce gang-related crime. “There are other institutions involved in crime prevention, and we believe it’s important to stop children and young people from entering this environment. We believe early intervention is essential — and this is primarily the responsibility of municipalities, schools, and of course, parents.”