Gang Crime Crackdown Helps Sweden Hit Decade-Low Homicides

Bangla Press Desk: Sweden recorded its lowest number of homicides in more than a decade in 2025, reflecting growing success in efforts to curb long-standing gang violence, according to official statistics.

Data released by the Swedish National Council for Crime Prevention (Brå) on Tuesday showed that 84 people were killed last year, down from 92 in 2024 and significantly lower than the peak of 124 recorded in 2020. The agency said the decline marked the second consecutive year of falling deadly violence and the lowest level since 2012.

Experts attribute the improvement to a combination of new policing strategies, expanded use of technology and increased powers granted to law enforcement agencies, which have helped tackle gang-related crime more effectively.

However, the overall figures were notably influenced by Sweden’s deadliest mass shooting in February 2024, in which 10 people were killed. The incident alone accounted for nearly a quarter of all gun-related deaths recorded in 2025.

Gun violence remained the leading cause of deadly incidents, claiming 42 lives during the year—three fewer than in the previous year.

Authorities have introduced a series of tougher measures to combat crime, including expanded surveillance powers, anonymity protections for court witnesses, stricter sentencing, and the introduction of “security zones,” where police can conduct searches without specific suspicion.Police officials say these steps have helped weaken the financial capabilities of criminal gangs and improved their ability to prevent violent attacks.

Sweden is set to hold national elections in September this year, with crime remaining a key issue for voters. Despite ongoing concerns, the number of shootings has dropped significantly since 2022, offering a boost to the government’s law-and-order agenda.