Incompetence, naïveté and crime fighting in Sweden
According to an article in Dagens Nyheter, printed on Friday (2006-01-13):
"The police and forensic scientists in Sweden lag 30 years behind other countries when it comes to the handling of violent crimes, three experts write. Prohibitive, investigative and custodial authorities all lack the necessary competence in crime-fighting techniques. This was evident after the murder of Anna Lindh. It is now evident in the recent spate of robberies involving vehicles transporting valuable items. And it has always been evident in the investigations of paedophilia in the country. Sweden lags 30 years behind countries such as the United Kingdom and USA on such matters. This is the fault of the police chiefs who do not ensure that existing international crime-fighting methods are put to use in Sweden." That is the opinion of three experts in the application of psychology to violent crimes.
"The rehabilitation of violent criminals and those convicted of sexual crimes is permeated by a lack of skills and a degree of naïveté that is astonishing. It is not just the police who become frustrated when criminals and seriously mentally disturbed individuals are released after short periods of rehabilitation, only to rape and murder again."
What a relief to see that I have not been losing my mind all this time, that I am not the only one to realise what these brave men have now put into words. Although others have written about this before, to no effect. Swedes have an uncanny ability to ignore critical and instructive articles. Will the system be improved after this latest criticism? Hardly. It is more likely that it will be business as usual - guided, as ever, by incompetence.
Before the politicians begin to pontificate on the need for more money to improve the rehabilitation system and improve crime fighting, they should take note of what the gentlemen have said:
"In most cases, the problems are not primarily due to a lack of funding or staff, but rather to the absence of competence and leadership."
It could hardly be expressed more clearly. This is an excellent line to learn, particularly now that the various election campaigns are about to be officially launched.
According to an article in Dagens Nyheter, printed on Friday (2006-01-13):
"The police and forensic scientists in Sweden lag 30 years behind other countries when it comes to the handling of violent crimes, three experts write. Prohibitive, investigative and custodial authorities all lack the necessary competence in crime-fighting techniques. This was evident after the murder of Anna Lindh. It is now evident in the recent spate of robberies involving vehicles transporting valuable items. And it has always been evident in the investigations of paedophilia in the country. Sweden lags 30 years behind countries such as the United Kingdom and USA on such matters. This is the fault of the police chiefs who do not ensure that existing international crime-fighting methods are put to use in Sweden." That is the opinion of three experts in the application of psychology to violent crimes.
"The rehabilitation of violent criminals and those convicted of sexual crimes is permeated by a lack of skills and a degree of naïveté that is astonishing. It is not just the police who become frustrated when criminals and seriously mentally disturbed individuals are released after short periods of rehabilitation, only to rape and murder again."
What a relief to see that I have not been losing my mind all this time, that I am not the only one to realise what these brave men have now put into words. Although others have written about this before, to no effect. Swedes have an uncanny ability to ignore critical and instructive articles. Will the system be improved after this latest criticism? Hardly. It is more likely that it will be business as usual - guided, as ever, by incompetence.
Before the politicians begin to pontificate on the need for more money to improve the rehabilitation system and improve crime fighting, they should take note of what the gentlemen have said:
"In most cases, the problems are not primarily due to a lack of funding or staff, but rather to the absence of competence and leadership."
It could hardly be expressed more clearly. This is an excellent line to learn, particularly now that the various election campaigns are about to be officially launched.
posted by Adolf R | 10:40
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