In 2008 approximately 1,378,000 offences were reported to the police, the customs authority or the prosecution service. This represents an increase of five percent by comparison with the figure for 2007.
The major part of this increase is accounted for by an increase in the number of reported fraud offences, criminal damage, drug offences, shoplifting and molestation. Violent offences (represented here by offences against Chapter 3 of the Swedish penal code, crimes against life and health) increased by four percent, whereas theft offences, which constitute the largest category of crimes in terms of their absolute number, fell by three percent by comparison with the figure for 2007. Violent offences are numerically dominated by assaults, which underwent a three percent increase.
During the period between 1975 and 1990, the number of reported offences rose by 61 percent. The increase was relatively constant throughout this period. By contrast, the level of reported offences has since remained more or less stable, unless the two latest years when the level has been higher.
Diagram: The total number of reported crimes, 1975-2008
The number has increased within the majority of offence categories during the period between 1975 and 2008. Burglaries, including residential burglaries, constitute an exception to this general rule, however. Since the beginning of the 1990s, trends show an increase in levels of reported violent offences and sex crimes, whereas the number of reported thefts, such as car thefts, and residential and other burglaries, has declined.
Diagram: The number of reported crimes against life and health, 1975-2008.
Reported violent offences are numerically dominated by assaults. Over the course of 2008, a total of approximately 84,600 assault offences were reported, which constitutes an increase of three percent by comparison with the figure for 2007. Assaults on women increased by approximately five percent to approximately 28,300 reported offences. In addition, there were a total of 2,730 reported cases of violation of a woman’s integrity – which represents an increase of nine percent by comparison with the number reported in 2007. Assaults on men were unchanged approximately 45,800 reported offences. Reported assaults on children up to six years of age increased by 23 percent to slightly more than 1,900 offences in 2008. The number of reported assault offences against children aged between seven and fourteen (almost 8,550 offences) increased by six percent by comparison with the figure for the previous year. The number of reported assault offences against both children and adults has increased since 1975 and today lies at a level that is nearly four times that of the 1975 figure.
Approximately 14,300 sex crimes were reported in 2008, which represents an increase of 14 percent by comparison with the number reported in 2007. There was an increase in the number of reported rape offences, which rose by 15 percent to 5,450. The number of reported crimes of sexual coercion, exploitation etc. increased by nine percent by comparison with the figure for 2007.
Diagram: The number of reported crimes against property, 1975-2008.
In 2008, the number of reported robberies increased by three percent by comparison with the figure for 2007 to approximately 8,900. Over the period between 1975 and 2000, this figure increased from just over 2,300 to 9,000, subsequent to which the level has stabilised. Robberies against the person, i.e. those perpetrated against private individuals, which comprise about 70 percent of reported robbery offences, decreased by two percent to 6,200 in 2008. Four percent (268) of these robberies against the person were committed abroad but reported in Sweden. A total of 1,010 robberies of shops and stores were reported in 2008, which constitutes an increase of 24 percent by comparison with the number reported in 2007. At the same time, 155 bank and postal robberies were reported in 2008, a figure which represents 2.5 times more robberies of this kind by comparison with the previous year (63). The trend in reported robberies of shops and stores has been on the increase since the beginning of the 1980s. A total of approximately 4,900 violent offences against public servants (police, security officers etc.) were reported in 2008. This represents an increase of three percent by comparison with the number reported in 2007.
Slightly over 560,000 theft offences were reported in 2008, which represents a reduction of three percent in relation to figure for the previous year. This category of crimes accounts for 41 percent of the total number of reported offences. The number of reported theft offences increased between 1975 and 1990, at which point the figure reached a peak. Subsequent to this point, the number of theft offences has declined and now lies at a level that is 24 percent lower than that recorded in 1990. Slightly over 279,000 car thefts were reported in 2008, along with nearly 79,900 thefts from motor vehicles. The number of car thefts declined by 13 percent, and the number of thefts from motor vehicles by 16 percent by comparison with the figures for 2007. The number of reported car thefts peaked in 1990. Since then the number of such offences has fallen by approximately 63 percent.
A total of slightly over 18,200 residential burglaries (thefts committed in connection with break-ins) were reported in 2008, which represents an increase of seven percent by comparison with the figure for 2007. The number of reported fraud offences increased by 39 percent to almost 108,000 crimes. Reported criminal damage offences increased by a total of nine percent, to 195,000 crimes. The number of reported incidents of graffiti on the public transport system increased by 35.
In addition, reported drug offences and road traffic offences increased to approximately 78,200 and 82,400 offences respectively. Drink driving offences dominated among the traffic offences. Drug offences and drink driving offences are examples of offence types where the number of recorded crimes increases in line with increased levels of police activity in these areas.
Diagram: The proportion of reported offences by the type of offences, 2008. Total number of offences 2008: 1,378,000.
