Stefan Löfven: "We will force the violence back"

- The alarm came to the police at 9.58am on a Monday morning. The woman at Ribersborg was 31 years old. She was shot to death on the open street when she was out with her little child. The bottomless tragedy leaves no one in our country untouched.

This is how Stefan Löfven began his presentation during the opening of the national assembly on how the government should work against crime and serious violence in the future.

He described the violence of criminals as a threat to people's security, to the rule of law and, by extension, to democracy.

- Facing this threat is part of the state's core tasks.

In his preventive work he emphasized the importance of the entire community's efforts and highlighted school, social service, popular movements and the local business community as important players. He also said that the government has begun a process of giving municipalities statutory responsibility for preventing crime.

The trial project with faster prosecution for some simpler crimes is also extended and extended to several parts of the country and the police will have better access to more tools.

- The government makes it easier to decide on camera surveillance and facilitates the police's access to digital evidence and encrypted communication to identify and reveal criminal activities.

The police are also commissioned to strengthen their work in combating illegal drug trafficking and BRÅ is commissioned to study the drug market in Sweden. In addition, Löfven addressed directly to individual citizens:

- Anyone who buys drugs must be aware that the money from the drug supports criminal gangs and their criminal activities.

Löfven emphasized the strength with a broad political consensus and said that the government is now taking the lead in gathering political decision-makers on these issues.

- The fight against serious crime is long-term. It will include both successes and setbacks. But the goal is clear. We must force back the violence.