Exploring the nexus between law enforcement strategies and the increased feelings of insecurity among citizens in Östra Göinge municipality - The functions and dysfunctions of the law

Abstract: While the Swedish Police, in the geographical area in which they operate, as well as each municipality in Sweden, are responsible for making their residents feel secure, this thesis examines the causes behind the increased feelings of insecurity among residents in Östra Göinge municipality. The main purpose of this study is to investigate the link between the practices of the local police in Östra Göinge and Östra Göinge municipality, which are governed by legal directives, and the increased feelings of insecurity among residents in Östra Göinge municipality. The results from the yearly conducted security measurement survey in Sweden provided a representation of the below the national average low crime rate and the increased feelings of insecurity among residents in Östra Göinge municipality in recent years. However, as the survey did not provide information about the causes behind the increase in feelings of security among residents, semi-structured interviews were conducted with residents and police officers of the municipality, to gain a wide-ranging picture of the problem. The theoretical framework of this thesis, namely Robert K. Merton’s theory about manifest and latent functions and dysfunctions was used to analyze the findings. The findings indicate that the main reasons behind the increased feelings of insecurity are the ineffective and dysfunctional practices of the local police and Östra Göinge municipality. The findings also indicate that media’s depiction of society, new ways of communicating due to technological developments, and residents fear of future exposure to crime, are other possible reasons behind the problem. The findings suggest that the local police and Östra Göinge municipality must alter their current, dysfunctional law enforcement practices. While both the local police and Östra Göinge municipality should increase their presence among the residents, especially at bus stops and squares, the local police should also, together with other relevant institutions, seek to provide more lighting and if possible, put up cameras in the municipality. Since the increased feelings of insecurity seems to also be a consequence of an unsuccessful integration of migrants in Östra Göinge municipality, due to a lack of insufficient information and knowledge about the Swedish society and its laws, the municipality should mainly focus on the integration of migrants in the municipality. They should provide sufficient information and knowledge about the Swedish society, its laws and culture, to the migrants throughout their integration process, to facilitate a successful and effective integration of the migrants.