The fact that many Swedes lack seawater is clearly evident in the police's statistics on reported crimes. In addition to crimes such as seafaring and violation, there is one type of crime that stands out: "other maritime traffic offenses with imprisonment in the penalty scale", for example carelessness in maritime traffic.

During the first six months of the year, the police received 39 notifications of these crimes, almost doubling compared to the same period last year when only 21 cases were reported. In 2016, there were even fewer, only 11 cases.

"Not acceptable"

Johan Skogfeldt, group manager at the Stockholm Police, believes that an explanation is the watercraft driver who drives too fast.

In recent years, the Stockholm Police have reported more cases of carelessness linked to watercraft - compared with earlier when speeding violations were reported.

- We want to show the seriousness of what they are doing, that it is not just a speed violation to drive fast next to the bathers, but that it is about a behavior that is not acceptable, says Johan Skogfeldt to TT.

Seafill decreases

Peter Novén, preliminary investigator at the traffic unit in the police region of the West, says that another explanation could be an increase in the number of recreational boats, as noted by the Maritime Police.

At the same time, he points out that more than just carelessness in maritime traffic is often required to lead to an actual prison sentence, giving an example:

- Then it is related to seafill.

However, the number of reported crimes of seafill and sea-going violation during the first six months of the year has decreased since 2018, according to police statistics.