There's been an unusual shift in how many people in Sweden worry about crime, as there is a recent change in public sentiment across the country with fewer people expressing high levels of concern regarding crime in society. This finding comes from the latest National Crime Victim and Safety Survey, an annual study conducted by the Swedish National Council for Crime Prevention, known as Brå.
For the past ten years, the percentage of the population reporting significant worry about crime had been on a steady climb, rising from 28 percent to 54 percent. However, the latest figures show a distinct reversal, with that number falling to 45 percent. Researcher Maria Molin noted the rarity of this development, stating that it is unusual to observe such large shifts from one year to the next, as these trends are typically slow-moving phenomena.
The survey also indicates that actual exposure to crime is continuing to decline. Fewer individuals reported being victims of offenses such as assault, robbery, theft, and threats over the past year compared to previous periods. The National Crime Victim and Safety Survey has been tracking these metrics annually since 2006.
Despite the overall downward trend in concern, researchers highlighted significant disparities in how safe people feel within their own neighborhoods. Residents in vulnerable areas reported higher levels of anxiety, with more than 35 percent stating they feel fairly or very unsafe when out in the evening. In contrast, this figure is roughly 20 percent for those living in areas characterized by strong socioeconomic conditions.
