• Sweden edition
Business & Money

Career criminality drains millions from Sweden

Published: 3 Jan 13 08:19 CET | Print version
Online: http://www.thelocal.se/45392/20130103/

Career criminals cost Swedish society so much that the government needs to take youth criminality more seriously, not only for the individual's sake, but also to keep costs in check, two economists have claimed

Ingvar Nilson and Anders Wadeskog used the town of Södertälje, one hour south of Stockholm, for their research because it has been plagued by criminal networks in recent years.

"We confirmed what we suspected, that the costs are enormous, but you can't see them at once because there are so many different actors involved," Nilson told the Dagens Nyheter (DN) newspaper.

The review took into account the costs of social services, police and courts costs, and other state-financed safety networks such as social security.

A robbery costs Sweden 226,000 kronor ($35,000), the researchers found, while an assault costs 203,000 kronor.

Aggravated assault, if it leaves the victim with permanent disabilities, can end up with a price tag of 50 million kronor.

The result of the study, which was commissioned by the anti-youth violence NGO Akta huvudet (Watch Your Head), illustrates the need for more preventative work, the report authors argued.

"The sums of money that now go into preventative work are very modest compared to the costs of crime," Nilsson said.

He and Wadeskog looked closely at young Swedes, mostly boys, who risk slipping into chronic criminality.

Only in Södertälje, they said, there are 600 boys who risk dabbling in crime. Of them, about 50 may slip into a life of crime.

The researchers calculated that if the youths do end up becoming career criminals, each one will cost society 80 million kronor before they turn 40.

"To put a stop to this when the boys are 10-years old is cheap compared to what they'll cost later," Nilson said.

TT/The Local/at
Follow The Local on Twitter

What do you think? Leave your comment below.

Your comments about this article:

The comments below have not been moderated in advance and are not produced by The Local unless clearly stated. Readers are responsible for the content of their own comments. Comments that breach our terms and conditions will be removed.

13:06 January 3, 2013 by burito
Is it native swedes are going to become criminals,or young muslim emigrants or their children?Problem not gona be solved if it is not getting solved,or just going around it in circles.Good look in talking around it ,and going around it...And when read The Local after 20 years,you still be -around it....What a joke...
13:57 January 3, 2013 by Abe L
It's typical Swedish to not address a problem unless it starts costing the government to much money. This should have been on top of the law enforcement's list for many years already.

It will also cost the government and tax payers a fortune to retrain the current police force from speeding ticket writing professional to actual criminal catching police.

This problem will only get fixed with a proper police approach and much more serious jailtime for such crimes. There should be fixed amounts of jailtime for robberies and assault of at least 15 years in prison without parol or early release.
ADD YOUR COMMENT   (YOU MUST LOG IN OR REGISTER TO MAKE A COMMENT)
Business & Money headlines
Sweden 'fails to help well-educated foreigners'

Sweden 'fails to help well-educated foreigners'

The white-collar union Saco has lambasted Sweden's Employment Agency for its failure to help well-educated, foreign-born job seekers, whose unemployment rate is more than three times the average for people born in Sweden. READ () »

Mixed results for Sweden refugee job push

Mixed results for Sweden refugee job push

Fifteen percent of refugees in Sweden who enrolled in the new establishment system the past two years have gone on to find jobs, new figures show, leading some observers to worry that the low success rate will place a burden on the benefits system. READ () »

Riksbank unveils new board members

Riksbank unveils new board members

Sweden's central bank has appointed two new board members plucked from banking and academia to replace two outgoing members, one of whom was an outspoken critic of the Riksbank's commitment to the government's inflation goal. READ () »

350 jobs lost as Ericsson shuts Swedish factory

350 jobs lost as Ericsson shuts Swedish factory

Swedish telecom giant Ericsson has buckled under the pressure of European competition and will turn off the switch on a cable production plant in Sweden, leaving 350 employees without jobs. READ () »

Sweden has 'lower tax burden' than Senegal

Sweden has 'lower tax burden' than Senegal

While Sweden has a reputation for having one of the most painful tax bills in the world, a new report ranks Sweden 20th when comparing the tax burden on salaries when social security payments and salary brackets are taken into account. READ () »

Ericsson probed over suspected bribes

Ericsson probed over suspected bribes

Swedish telecom equipment maker Ericsson is suspected of having bribed ministers in Romania in connection with being awarded a contract for the country's emergency number and is now under investigation in the United States. READ () »

Warning over 'long-term' Swedish export slump

Warning over 'long-term' Swedish export slump

Sweden's largest business confederation has gone out guns blazing, criticizing politicians for not facing up to the challenges of "a lost year for Swedish exports" in 2012. READ () »

'Lean hospital a sign of Swedish welfare reform'

'Lean hospital a sign of Swedish welfare reform'

A Stockholm hospital saved from closure by private health care providers has been hailed by the Economist as one of modern's Sweden public-private success stories. READ () »

H&M mulls production in South America and Africa

H&M mulls production in South America and Africa

Swedish clothing giant H&M is looking into the possibility of sourcing its production to South America, Central America, and even Africa, chief executive Karl-Johan Persson said on Monday. READ () »

Nord Stream plans new gas pipelines

Nord Stream plans new gas pipelines

Gas pipeline firm Nord Stream will hold an information meeting on the Baltic island of Gotland on Monday to introduce a proposal to extend its controversial gas pipeline project. READ () »

More Business & Money

Find a new job in Sweden now
23/05 Account Executive/Office Manager
Toolbox Marketing
Stockholm, STHM
23/05 Application Owner AX
Net Entertainment
Stockholm
23/05 Area sales Manager
Gemalto
Stockholm, STHM
23/05 E.ON are looking for a Regional Category Manager Elnät
Experis Sverige
SKÅ
23/05 Integration Engineer at Aditro
Aditro
Stockholm, STHM
23/05 Java Developer (Turku, Finland)
Academic Work
Turku
23/05 Manager Service Management Center
Telenor Sverige AB
Stockholm, STHM
23/05 Platform Engineer
TeliaSonera
Farsta
23/05 Product Manager
Safemind AB
Stockholm
23/05 Produktionsplanerare, Coca-Cola Enterprises Sverige
Coca-Cola Enterprises Sverige AB
Stockholm, STHM

ALL JOBS »


 
Latest Business & Money news from Germany
Counseling in English
Individuals & Couples - Stockholm Beth Rogerson PhD - Clinical, Marriage & Family Therapist
Click or call 08-5580 1266 now
Trade binary options
Create an account with Banc De Binary, the world’s most reputable binary options firm, and start cashing in today! You can start by practicing with our free $50,000 demo account.
www.bbinary.com
Therapy in English
Expat counsellor & talk therapist offers counselling for stress, relationship issues, sexuality, culture adjustment & life coaching. Private & confidential. Stockholm or Skype. Contact me today! 08-559 22 636 or
CLICK HERE
Holiday Luxury Villa in Portugal
Casa Birgitta in Algarve, Portugal. Reduced price in best location. Private estate on white sand beach. All amenities included. Book here today! edward_george1@hotmail.com
The Local's new Marketplace
Find products and services that are specifically focused on English speakers living in Sweden!
FULL DETAILS