Open drug markets, vulnerable neighbourhoods and gun violence in two Swedish cities

Manne Gerell, Joakim Sturup, Mia-Maria Magnusson, Kim Nilvall, Ardavan Khoshnood, Amir Rostami

Research output: Contribution to journalArticlepeer-review

Abstract

Gun violence is a serious issue in many countries across the globe. It has been shown that there is an elevated risk for a further shooting nearby within a short time span of a shooting incident, so-called near-repeat patterning. The present study presents new evidence on near-repeat patterning in Sweden, with a focus on neighbourhoods which the police have labelled as ‘vulnerable’ – deprived neighbourhoods where criminal networks have a large impact on local communities. Such neighbourhoods tend to have open drug markets, and to have high levels of gun violence. The present paper analyses the association of open drug markets and vulnerable neighbourhoods with gun violence and near-repeat patterning of gun violence in two Swedish cities. Our findings suggest that gun violence is strongly concentrated on open drug markets in vulnerable neighbourhoods, and that those locations in addition exhibit high risks for repeat shootings after an initial shooting event. We propose that the police can use this knowledge to improve practices to prevent or disrupt gun violence.

Original languageEnglish
Pages (from-to)223-244
JournalJournal of Policing, Intelligence and Counter Terrorism
Volume16
Issue number3
Early online date2021 Mar 19
DOIs
Publication statusPublished - 2021 Oct 21

Subject classification (UKÄ)

  • Law and Society

Free keywords

  • Gun Violence
  • Shootings
  • Open Drug Markets
  • Neighborhoods
  • Firearm
  • Firearm-Related Violence
  • Sweden
  • Malmö
  • Stockholm
  • Drugs

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