The Swedish Crime Survey

The Swedish Crime Survey (SCS or Nationella trygghetsundersökningen – NTU – in Swedish) is an annual survey of the attitudes and experiences of the general population of Sweden (aged 16-84 years) regarding victimisation, fear of crime, confidence in the criminal justice system, and crime victims' contacts with the criminal justice system.

Victimisation

Victimisation was investigated for the calendar year preceding the date on which the question was asked. This means that the victimisation reported in the 2019 SCS reflects victimisation during 2018. Victimisation in terms of offences against an individual is reported as the percentage of victims, unlike victimisation in terms of property offences against households, which is reported as the percentage of victimised households.

Offences against an individual

In the 2019 SCS, 4 per cent of the population (aged 16–84) state that during 2018, they were a victim of one or more of the types of offences referred to in the report as offences against an individual: assault, threats, sexual offences, robbery, pickpocketing, sales fraud, card-/credit fraud, harassment and online harassment. This is an increase as compared with the preceding year (in 2017 the proportion was 24.7 %).

The type of offence that had the highest proportion of victims according to the 2019 SCS was threat (9.1 %) while robbery was the least common (1.4 %).

The proportion of victims has increased for almost all types of offences against an individual compared to 2017. The exceptions are sexual offences and pickpocketing. Seen over a longer period of time, it is the self-reported exposure to sexual offences that have been most evident in recent years, as the proportion who state this victimisation clearly increased up to and including 2017. In the latest measurement, instead, a decrease is seen and it remains to be seen if this is the beginning of a downward trend. Furthermore, the proportion of people who state that they have been a victim of harassment has increased in principle every year since 2010². The proportion of people who state that they have been victims of threats and robberies has increased annually from 2015, and even for assault an increasing trend is noted, as the proportion has increased for the third year in a row.

Most persons who state that have been a victim of offences against an individual state that they were victimised once during 2018, while 25.1 per cent of them (corresponding to 6.6 % of the population aged 16–84) state that they were victims four times or more. Individuals in this group count for almost three quarters (74.0 %) of all incidents of offences against an individual.

Assault

The percentage of individuals who state that they were a victim of assault in 2018 is 3.5 per cent of the population (aged 16–84). The level is slightly higher than in 2017, when 3.3 per cent were a victim of assault. The trend for the period 2006–2015 was one of a weak decline although with some yearly variations, but the last three years show a slightly increasing trend. Men were victims of assault more often than women and victims of assault were most commonly in the 16–19 age bracket.

Threats

For 2018, 9.1 per cent of the population (aged 16–84) state that they were a victim of threats, which is an increase compared with 2017 (8.3 %). Threat offences remained at a relatively stable level for most of the measurement period (2006–2014), but since 2015 an increasing trend has been noted. Men were victims of threats more often than women and victims of threats were most commonly in the 16–19 age bracket.

Sexual offences

For 2018, 6.0 per cent of the population (aged 16–84) state that they were a victim of sexual offences. This is a decrease since 2017 (6.4%) after increasing almost every year since 2012. Women were victims of sexual offences significantly more often than men and there are large differences between different age groups. Among women, the proportion is greatest in the age group of 20-24 years, where 34.4 per cent state they were a victim of sexual offences, while men had the largest proportion of victims in the 25–34 age group with a proportion of 3.6 per cent

Robbery

Harassment

For 2018, 8.2 per cent of the population (aged 16–84) state that they were victims of harassment. This is a clear increase since 2017, when the proportion was 5.9 percent. From 2006 to 2010, the proportion of people exposed to harassment declined gradually. Since then, the proportion has increased for almost all measurement years. Women were victims of harassment more often than men and victims were most commonly among the youngest age bracket (aged 16–19).

Pickpocketing

For 2018, 2.8 per cent of the population (aged 16–84) state that they were victims of pickpocketing, which means that the proportion is virtually unchanged compared with 2017, when the proportion was 2.9 per cent Women were victims of pickpocketing slightly more often than men and victims of pickpocketing were most commonly in the 16-19 age bracket.

Sales fraud

For 2018, 5.1 per cent of the population (aged 16–84) state that they were victims of sales fraud. The percentage is greater than 2017, when 4.8 per cent stated that they had been victims. This is also an increase from 2016. Men were victims of sales fraud more often than women. The greatest percentage of victims was in the 35–44 age bracket.

Card-/credit fraud

For 2018, 5.4 per cent of the population (aged 16–84) state that they were a victim of card-/credit fraud. This is a higher level than 2017, when the percentage of victims was 5.1 per cent. Men were victims of card- /credit fraud more often than women, and the greatest percentage of victims was in the 45–54 age bracket.

Online harassment

For 2018, 2.5 per cent of the population (aged 16–84) state that they were victims of online harassment. This is a decrease from 2017, when the proportion was 2.1 per cent. There were no differences between men and women regarding the proportion who were exposed. The greatest percentage of victims was in the 16–19 age bracket.

Property offences against households

The SCS shows that 14.6 per cent of households were victims of car theft, theft out of or from a vehicle, bicycle theft, or burglary (all referred to as property offences against households) during 2018. This is an increase from 2017 (when the percentage of victimised households was 13.8 %). However, the proportion has decreased if you look at developments since 2006.

The most common property offence is bicycle theft (11.1 %), while vehicle theft is least common (1.0 %).

Exposure has increased in terms of theft out or from vehicles and bicycle theft compared to 2017, while the proportion remains at the same level as 2017 if you look at home burglaries and car theft. The property offences that have had the most significant development since 2006 are the car-related crimes, which have declined significantly.

An majority of those who were victims of property offences against households state that they were victims once in 2018, while a smaller percentage of the victimised households (6.7 %) stated that they were victims four times or more. This group was exposed to 29.5 per cent of all property offences.

Burglary

In 2018, 1.8 per cent of households were victims of burglary. This is at the same level as in both 2016 and 2017. The proportion of households that have been exposed to burglaries varied for most of the measurement period around a relatively stable level, but in 2016 the level increased somewhat, and the proportion has remained at the slightly higher level since then.

Car theft

In 2018, 1.0 per cent of households were victims of car theft, which means that the proportion is virtually unchanged compared with 2017, when the proportion was 0.9 per cent. The proportion declined significantly during the period 2006-2014, but in 2015 the proportion increased slightly, The percentage has since remained relatively stable at that level, which despite the increase, is nevertheless considerably lower than when the measurements started.

Theft out of or from a vehicle

The percentage of households that were victims of theft out of or from a vehicle was 4.7 per cent in 2018. This is a slight increase from 2017, when the proportion was 4.5 percent. During the period 2006–2010, the percentage of households that were victims of theft out of or from a vehicle declined dramatically and victimisation has thereafter remained at a relatively stable level.

Bicycle theft

In 2018, 11.1 per cent of households were victims of bicycle theft. This is an increase compared with last year, when 10.3 per cent of households were victims. The level of the proportion of households exposed to bicycle thefts has remained relatively stable throughout the measurement period.

Fear of crime

Measuring fear of crime is complicated, but the SCS can contribute by providing a number of key indicators on the subject. The reference periods reflected in the chapter on fear of crime vary, depending on the type of question. Questions about concern for various types of offences refer to the most recent twelve months (from the time of interview). The more comprehensive questions refer to the perception one had at the time the question was asked (2019). Regarding concerns about being a victim of crime, the questions about burglary and theft or vandalism of vehicles are the only ones that have been included in their present form every year since the survey was initiated, while the questions about concern about the rest of the offenses were added in conjunction with the revision of the survey in 2017.

Feeling unsafe outdoors late at night

A total of 28 per cent of the population (aged 16–84) state that they feel very unsafe or quite unsafe when going outdoors alone at night or that, as a consequence of feeling unsafe, they avoid going out alone at night. The percentage decreased during the first period and the level is stable after that. However, in 2016 a significant increase occurred and the level has been stable after that.

It is significantly more common for women to feel unsafe than for men. The percentage of persons who feel unsafe is particularly high among the youngest and oldest women in the survey.

Confidence in the criminal justice system

The criminal justice system comprises several different public agencies and the SCS asks questions about the criminal justice system as a whole, as well as more specific questions regarding four of its agencies – the police, the public prosecutors, the courts, and the prison and probation service. The chapter on confidence in the criminal justice system reflects the interview subject's perception at the time of the interview (2019).

The results shown on confidence in the criminal justice system are mainly on the percentage that state that they have a high (very high or quite high) confidence. The other response alternatives are low (very, or quite low) confidence or no opinion. This means that respondents that do not have a high confidence per definition do not need to have low confidence. They could have stated that thy have no opinion. However, the fact that some respondents have no particular view on a given issue, or are unwilling to commit themselves, is in itself an important factor to consider when assessing levels of public confidence. For this reason, those who state that they have no opinion in relation to the questions on confidence in the justice system are included in the result.

Confidence in the criminal justice system as a whole

A little less than half (48%) of the population (aged 16–84) state that they have a high (very high or quite high) degree of confidence in the criminal justice system as a whole, which in principle is at the same level as 2018, when the proportion was 47 per cent. The proportion of high degree of confidence has been relatively stable since 2011 until 2017, when there was a clear decrease. Thereafter the proportion increased again, which means that it has returned to the previous level.

It is more common for women to have a high degree of confidence in the criminal justice system as a whole than for men. In terms of age, the proportion is greatest in the age group 35–44 years.

Confidence in the police

The proportion of the population (aged 16–84) who state that they have a high degree of confidence in the police's way of doing their work is 52 per cent, which is an increase from 2018, when the proportion was 49 per cent. The level was stable (with annual variations) until 2016, but 2017 saw a decrease in the share that states that they have a high degree of confidence. In 2018, however, there was an increase and that increase has continued in 2019. An increase of a total of 10 percentage points occurred between 2017 and 2019.

It is more common for women to have a high degree of confidence in the police than for men. In terms of age, the proportion is greatest in the age groups 20–54 years

Confidence in the public prosecutors

It is 39 per cent of the population (aged 16–84) who have a high degree of confidence in the public prosecutors' way of doing their work, which is an increase from 2018, when the proportion was 36 per cent. The proportion increased until 2009 and then remained at a stable level until 2016, but decreased in 2017. However, the result for 2019 shows that the proportion has increased again, which means that it is back at about the same level as before.

It is more common for women to have a high degree of confidence in the public prosecutors than for men. In terms of age, the proportion with a high degree of confidence in the public prosecutors is greatest in the age group 35–44 years

Confidence in the courts

It is 38 per cent of the population (aged 16–84) who state that they have a high degree of confidence in the courts' way of doing their work, which is a small increase from 2018, when the proportion was 36 per cent. The proportion was relatively stable for most of the measurement period up to and including 2016. The proportion then declined in 2017, but has increased slightly in 2019.

It is somewhat more common for women to have a high degree of confidence in the courts than for men. In terms of age, the proportion is greatest in the age group 35–44 years

Confidence in the prison and probation service

It is 33 per cent of the population (aged 16–84) who have a high degree of confidence in the way in which the prison and probation service operates, which in principle is at the same level as 2018, when the proportion was 32 per cent. The proportion with a high degree of confidence in the prison and probation service increased between 2007 and 2010 and has since remained relatively stable. In recent years, there is a hint of increase, but it is still too early to tell if this is an increasing trend.

It is somewhat more common for women to have a high degree of confidence in the prison and probation service than for men. In terms of age, the proportion is greatest in the 16–19 and 20–24 age brackets.

Confidence that the criminal justice system as a whole treats suspects fairly

The results for 2019 show that 42 per cent of the population (aged 16–84 years) have a high degree of confidence that the criminal justice system as a whole treats those suspected of crimes fairly, which is a small increase from 2017 when the proportion was 40 per cent. The proportion has remained at a relatively stable level for most of the measurement period, except for 2017 when the proportion decreased. A slight increase is then visible, but whether this is an increasing trend is still too early to determine.

It is basically just as common among men as among women to have a high degree of confidence that the criminal justice system as a whole treats those suspected of crimes fairly. In terms of age, the proportion is greatest in the 35–44 age brackets.

Confidence that the police treats suspects fairly

The results for 2019 show that 49 per cent of the population (aged 16–84) have a high degree of confidence that the police treats those suspected of crimes fairly, which is a small increase from 2018 when the proportion was 47 per cent. The proportion has generally been at a stable level, but there has been an increase between 2017 and 2019. It remains to be seen whether the increase is the beginning of a new trend or a temporary deviation from the otherwise stable level.

It is basically just as common among men as among women to have a high degree of confidence that the police treat those suspected of crimes fairly. In terms of age, the proportion is greatest in the 45–54 age brackets.

Confidence that the criminal justice system as a whole treats crime victims in a good way

The results for 2019 show that 28 per cent of the population (aged 16–84) have a high degree of confidence that the criminal justice system as a whole treats crime victims in a good way, which is a small increase from 2018 when the proportion was 26 per cent The proportion with a high degree of confidence increased slightly at the beginning of the measurement period and has subsequently remained at a relatively stable level.

It is somewhat more common for women to have a high degree of confidence that the criminal justice system as a whole treats crime victims in a good way than for men. In terms of age, the proportion is greatest in the age group 16-19 years.

Confidence that the police treats crime victims in a good way

The results for 2019 show that 44 per cent of the population (aged 16–84) have a high degree of confidence that the police treat crime victims in a good way, which is an increase from 2018 when the proportion was 41 per cent. The proportion with a high degree of confidence has remained stable throughout the measurement period, and it remains to be seen whether the increase is the beginning of an increasing trend or whether there is a temporary deviation from the otherwise stable level.

It is somewhat more common for women to have a high degree of confidence that the police treat crime victims in a good way than for men. In terms of age, the proportion is greatest in the 35–44 age brackets.

Crime victims’ contacts with the justice system

When a person has been subjected to an offence that is reported to the police, the person gets, and gain experience of, one or more of the agencies within the criminal justice system. The experience is customarily limited to the person’s contact with the police in connection with the police report, but may also comprise contact with public prosecutors, counsel for injured parties and, in the event the offence comes to trial, courts. The chapter on crime victims' contacts with the criminal justice system reports experiences from the most recent three years (as of the date of the question).

Experience of the police in connection with reporting a crime to the police

The 2019 SCS shows that 25 per cent of the population (aged 16–84) have been subjected to any crime that has been reported to the police during the last three years. Of these, 45 per cent stated that they overall had positive experiences with the police, which in principle is at the same level as 2018 (44 per cent).The proportion has remained at a stable level for most of the measurement period, however, a slight decrease can be seen for the last years. When comparing crimes with and without violence, the proportion with positive experiences is at about the same level.

With regard to various parts of the police's work, the victims are most satisfied with the way the police have treated them (54 %) and with the accessibility of the police (48 %), but less satisfied with the information they have received regarding how the police are working with their case (34 %) and with the police effectiveness in investigating the crime (19 %). When comparing crimes with and without elements of threats or violence, the proportion of satisfaction is greater when the incident has not entailed threats or violence, seen to the majority of the questions about the police's work. The exception is the question of the police's effectiveness, where the proportion is greater in cases where the offence has contained threats or violence.

Women state that they have positive experience of the police more often than men, in terms of both the overall experience of the police and the various parts of the police's work, and in terms of age, the proportion with positive experiences is greatest among the oldest age groups.

Experience with public prosecutors or courts

Approximately 2.2 per cent of the population state that they have been in contact with public prosecutors as a result of having been a victim of crime sometime during the last three years, even if the investigation did not subsequently lead to trial. Of these people, 42 per cent state that they experienced their contact with public prosecutors positively, which is at approximately the same level as 2018 (41 %).

Of the population aged 16–84, 1.2 per cent state that they have partic­ipated as an injured party in a trial during the most recent three years. Of these persons, 52 per cent state that they are satisfied with the way they were treated in court, which is a decrease from 2018 when the proportion was 56 per cent. Furthermore, 63 per cent state that they thought it was easy to understand the trial, which is a small decrease from 2018 (65 %). Lastly, 57 per cent feel that they have received enough information before the trial, which is an increase from 2018 when the proportion was 53 per cent.

Of those who have participated in a trial as an injured party it is 60 per cent who had a so-called counsel for an injured party. Of these persons, 64 per cent describe their experience of the counsel for an injured party as positive, which is a decrease from 2018 (69 %).

Women have positive experiences to a greater extent than men when it comes to experience of prosecutors, courts and injured party assistants, while there are basically no differences between women and men seen in understanding the trial and experience of information before the trial.

Footnotes

¹).The results regarding victimisation 2006–2015 are recalculated since the SCS was then carried out with another method. For the corresponding results before the recalculation, see previous SCS publications.

²). In connection with the follow-up interviews, it has emerged that some people have misunderstood the screening question of harassment. Instead, it may have involved telephone sales or the like. The results regarding the exposure to harassment should therefore be interpreted with great caution. The wording of the question and how the results are reported will be reviewed before the 2020 SCS.