About this Episode
Shootings in Sweden dropped sharply last year after new policing methods and stricter laws targeting gang crime. Official figures show 147 shootings, about 63 percent fewer than in 2022. The number of fatalities remained unchanged at 43.
Justice Minister Gunnar Strömmer said new tools and resources allow police to disrupt criminal networks earlier. Officers can search people in designated safety zones without suspicion. Courts now allow anonymous witnesses in certain cases. Surveillance powers have been expanded and sentences for gang-related offences increased. Police also intensified operations against criminal groups and seized assets.
Rights organisations and legal experts warn some measures may weaken civil liberties. Critics say suspicion-free searches risk arbitrary checks and may affect young men in migrant neighbourhoods. They also question expanded surveillance and anonymous witnesses in court.
Experts add that one year of data does not confirm a lasting trend. Longer observation is needed to determine whether violence is declining permanently.
