Fatal firearm violence has remained at a high level since the increase in the 1990s.

Since 2017, more than 40 people have been shot dead annually, according to police statistics.

- It has varied which part of the country has had the highest level, but overall it has been at a stable level in recent years, says Manne Gerell, associate professor of criminology at Malmö University.

Violence is linked to conflicts between and within criminal networks, which have good access to firearms.

- Neither the police nor other authorities have managed to curb it while the new recruitment to these networks has continued, says Manne Gerell.

Many detained during the year

During the year, several encrypted messaging services were cracked in international police operations.

It has been followed by a wave of arrests and prosecutions of prominent figures in the criminal networks.

Despite this, the deadly shooting violence has remained at the same high level as before.

The fact that violent people are deprived of their liberty can lead to new conflicts, but several studies have shown that the lock-in effect usually leads to reduced gang violence in the short term, Manne Gerell emphasizes.

- It may be that we would have had even higher levels of gang shootings if these had not been caged, but it is difficult to say.

Therapy can help

To reverse the trend, it is necessary in the short term that more crimes are solved, says Manne Gerell.

In addition, the state of knowledge about which methods work must be improved.

- There we grope a bit in the dark in Sweden, he says.

In the longer term, preventive work is required, including in the form of investments in schools and social services, Gerell believes.

One method he highlights is cognitive behavioral therapy, which has shown positive results in several American studies.

Among other things, it can prevent young people from being drawn into crime.

The responsible minister does not want to comment

Minister of Justice and Home Affairs Morgan Johansson (S) has declined an interview with SVT Nyheter.

"Primarily, it is the Police Authority that can account for its intensive work with these issues, which has been greatly scaled up in recent years," his press secretary writes in a text message.

The police tell SVT that they do not have the opportunity to give an interview about the situation.