The Brå report's figures on crime among domestic and foreign-born were "quite expected", according to Minister of Justice Morgan Johansson (S).
- It is important that you do not use this to make it appear that immigrants are an inferior kind of people, he says.
Johansson reckons that racist forces will want to use the statistics.
- Yes, immigrants are overrepresented in crime statistics, but they are also overrepresented in the care professions, he says to TT.
Johansson points to what he believes should be the strongest conclusion of the report.
- We must ensure that we do even more when it comes to preventive measures, when it comes to social services, schools and leisure activities for the groups that have been marginalized, he says.
"Important to know what's going on"
Liberal party leader Nyamko Sabuni welcomes Brå's report.
- The more we know, the more we can do this year.
I think it is extremely important that we now see that it is the second generation of immigrants who are suspected of crime more often than others.
Many times you want to put it on immigrants.
It is also important to know what is happening in our suburban vulnerable areas, with these children and in these families who will then be suspected of this type of serious crime, she says.
To remedy the situation, the Liberals want to see both repressive measures in the form of stricter punishments and preventive work in, among other places, schools.
The Moderates' party leader Ulf Kristersson believes that they have warned of the very risk that is now seen in the report.
- Really large immigration and really poor integration create areas of exclusion and they foster crime.
I think most people in Sweden knew that it was this way, now it is good that there are reports that emphasize this.
Then you have to start doing something about this as well, stop crime and prevent new crime.
I think it is good that we get knowledge about this, but now we must also take political measures that reduce the problems, he says.
The Moderates also point to tough measures against those who commit crimes combined with preventive measures to remedy the problem.
- I think it's a lot about really hard tackles on those who commit really serious crime and then invest a lot in prevention in school and that the social services can help where they can but to make sure that the prison service takes care of the serious criminals , he says.
"We were right"
The Sweden Democrats believe that the Brå report shows that they were right.
- Crime in Sweden is to a very high degree linked to a failed immigration policy, says SD's legal policy spokesman Adam Marttinen to TT.
He has a different explanation than Johansson for why Swedish-born with foreign-born parents from certain regions, such as Africa, stand out.
- I think it has to do with cultural differences, says Marttinen.
He points in particular to sexual crimes.
- There are different values about the role of women in society, says Marttinen.
Do you mean that robberies and violent crimes also have cultural explanations?
- I think it has to do with the fact that we have a segregated society where it is felt that Swedish children and young people are easier prey, says Marttinen.
"Lock in more"
What needs to be done?
- We need to ensure that we lock in more people in a much longer time.
It can be about a doubled prison population for a long time.
Marttinen also calls for an insight that immigration brings with it problems.
- That insight must be had as a responsible government in order to create a safe society.
The left wants to invest in vulnerable areas
SVT has asked Linda Snecker, legal policy spokesperson for the Left Party, what she thinks should be focused on now.
- Emergency efforts are needed.
Mainly the socio-economic differences that must be eliminated.
The gap between people means that some groups end up in crime, and we can not have that.
This is a betrayal that governments have ignored. We need to invest in vulnerable areas and access to drug trafficking and get rid of circulating weapons.
Some political opponents point out that immigration is a decisive factor, what do you say about that?
- Then you close your eyes to the solutions that must be made.
The abrupt report points to the socio-economic factors.
This is where it is possible to make major political differences.