The security zone in the Hageby district of Norrköping, which has been in place for two weeks, ceased at midnight. 368 visits and 41 searches of vehicles were carried out. No firearms or explosives were found.
Kristian Malzoff, national implementation manager for security zones at the police, is pleased.
We have managed to calm down a spiral of violence that was escalating, he says to TT.
The security zone in Norrköping is the first of its kind. For two weeks, Hageby has had a significantly increased police presence. The police have had the right to stop and search both adults and children and search vehicles without a specific suspicion of a crime.
I am pleased that we have not had any more violent incidents in Hageby during these weeks. The area was perhaps one of the most dangerous, not least with the double murder that was a kind of crescendo in the development of crime in Norrköping, he says.
Scepticism within the police
There has been scepticism within the police authority and talk of signal politics - that this would create problems rather than prevent them, according to Malzoff.
He has heard criticism from police officers that they have not found weapons despite nearly several hundred visits. And that it would be a failure.
But I do not see it that way. Residents in Hageby have, as I understand it, generally been positive. We have been good at communicating the purpose of the security zone, how it will work, how a body search is carried out. And it is clear that then you will keep away as a criminal, says Malzoff.
Effective
He thinks the tool has been effective and is convinced that it will continue to be used.
What knowledge is valuable to take with?
The importance of communication. That our colleagues working in the zone are clear about the purpose, and that they see it as an opportunity to meet citizens who live in the area.
In order to be able to prevent shootings and explosions in conflicts, the police authority can introduce security zones where the police have special powers to search for weapons and other dangerous objects.
Within a security zone, the police can stop and search people and search vehicles.
All interventions must be documented in a protocol.
Decisions on a security zone shall apply for a maximum of two weeks at a time, where the police authority shall publish the decision on its website and inform about it in other ways. The decision can be appealed to court.
A security zone is also called a visitation zone.
Source: The Government
