The police at Hisingen test new ways to prevent crime

In May last spring, several thousand Gothenburg citizens received a text message that surely made them shark. It was from the police and stated very briefly that their mobile number was found in a so -called « drug ». Everyone in the Langar’s phone book received the same message and there was, among other things, that the police could come on home visits « for a call about your connections to this type of crime. »

This was rewritten and questioned. Integrity -violating, some thought, that only someone’s contact list is not a crime in itself. But the police thought the deterrent effect weighed heavier.

– We got the idea in the room here next door, says the trio behind the mailing, Oskar, Mårten and Jasmin, area police who want to keep their last names away from publication.

That just theirs Wild idea got wings after that sitting with a seizure of mobile in hand, they explain as « a compote »:

– I went to rehab after an injury and had time. We all love challenges. And so we had managers who dared, says Mårten.

– In addition, other area police officers lined up and did more of everyday work so that we could have time to sit with this without it going beyond the basic assignment, says Oskar.

And it stopped Not there. At about the same time, the group got barley on a Snapchat group that often changed its name, but which was called « yet another new Mia ». About 100 users advised each other about police movements in the residential area Backa. Mårten shows on a powerpoint:

– « Civve at the new houses, » one writes. A civilian police. « What is the civil on it? » Asks next, and here someone writes that « XC 60 whips ». After all, it is one of our cars that simply drives quickly.

With the help of IT technicians, the group at Hisingen managed to identify users and found a wide and worrying span. Many of the tips were minors, but several of those who gratefully received the information were heavily criminal men.

– This is how the new recruitment for the gang works now. The boys are picked up on the digital square, and then this is also where we have to strangle it, says Jasmin.

When the young The Snapchat guys had been identified, Therese Josefsson Niemelä came into the picture. She is a social secretary with placement inside the police office at Hisingen and together with her the area police made a plan. They wanted to wait a bit with reporting the boys, and instead chose to first call a parent meeting.

– I called the custodians and told me that the police would have a meeting and that it was about their children, but also informed that there would be other families in place at the same time. Almost everyone came, says Therese.

A father who participated tells DN that it was not the first warning signal for his part. The son belongs to the slightly older in the group and was known by the police before. When the invitation arrived, the father had to nag a little, but in the end the son followed.

The police say that It was a little nervous crowd that settled down in the room at Brunnsboskolan. Therese from the social services counted about ten families and almost everyone had their youth with them.

– We said we were worried about their children and that we wanted to help them, Jasmin says.

When the PowerPoint presentation with the Snapchat logo lit up, something happened in the congregation.

– We saw how several of the guys picked up their mobiles and left the group. After all, they took, says Mårten.

The police told us If « Another new Mia » and showed screenshots from the group chat. Then they showed a list of some of the older members, and their criminal records: « They were born in 1988. 22 Crimes. In prison for 5 years. » « Man born 1996. Serious weapons offense, drug offenses. Prison 4 years. » etc.

– Then the parents saw the seriousness. « Do you mean my son is in a community with these?! » And we could only say that yes, he shows up here, shows that he can do a good job by scouting. And then it’s easy for them to pick him up for something else, says Jasmin.

Oskar remembers that one of the guys opposed a little and questioned the meeting, because it is actually not illegal to gossip about how police move. Then it was one of the fathers who turned around in the hall and said away.

– He just said that it doesn’t matter, because you help criminals through what you do. Then there was nothing more. « Self-policing » we call it.

Dad as DN Spoken with was also pleased with that exchange of opinion.

– That you see that others are in the same seat. And that you see that society is doing its utmost. I want to pay tribute to the police here. They do everything they can do and they have our children in focus.

After the meeting, several of the parents created a group where they can quickly reach each other. And the cops were so pleased that they test the same thing again.

– We have a new Snapchat account for analysis. Hundreds of new names. There will be more meetings, says the area police.