“You belong to a violent group in Malmö, and if you continue this path, we will focus on your entire group. But if you want to change, there is help available – I don’t want you to die.” These words, spoken by the police chief during the first call-in meeting with the members of violent groups in Malmö, capture the essence of the EU-funded project Group Violence Intervention (GVI). In 2018-2020, it became part of a pilot initiative “Sluta skjut” (“Stop Shooting”) to address the escalating gang violence and shootings in Malmö, the third largest city in Sweden.
The Group Violence Intervention strategy was developed in the United States in the 1990s as an effort to reduce serious violence, in particular fatal shootings. The Group Violence Intervention builds on strong collaboration between the police, the municipality, the prison and probation service, as well as the local community. All professionals involved focus on deterring crime firmly and clearly. They meet directly with the members of violent groups to communicate that the violence must end immediately — otherwise, serious consequences will follow. The approach also recognises the value of group members as part of society and emphasises that support is available. Those who wish to leave behind their criminal lifestyle will be offered assistance to make that transition possible.
The strategy proved to be successful in Sweden: it reaches people who are difficult to reach, helps a more nuanced understanding of groups that perpetrate violence, and creates conditions for collaborating across the country. An impact evaluation showed that the number of shootings in Malmö fell by 25% per month during the Sluta skjut pilot project period. The Municipality of Malmö has also seen a continuous downward trend in terms of shootings in recent years compared to other Swedish cities. Although it is hard to determine statistically which factors are behind this decrease, the city made the Group Violence Intervention a key part of its ongoing efforts to reduce violence. In addition, several municipalities including Örebro, Gothenburg, and Uppsala started working with the Group Violence Intervention, helping to prevent serious violence and create safer communities across Sweden.
The success of the first phase of the project has demonstrated the effectiveness and relevance of the Group Violence Intervention strategy in Sweden. The project continues to expand and adapt good practices to new cities in Sweden and in other countries. This ongoing work is supported by the EU to ensure it remains effective and contributes to safer communities.
Duration:
First cycle: 2018-2020
Second cycle: 1 September 2024 to 31 August 2027
Countries: Sweden
Budget:
First cycle: EUR 572,809 + EUR 626,182;
Second cycle: EUR 1,490,137
EU contribution:
First cycle : EUR 429,607 and EUR 469,637
Second cycle : EUR 1,117,603
Fund: ISF
Policy: Organised Crime
Project information: GVI
