Public safety — a cornerstone of any functioning democracy
Public safety is more than the absence of crime — it is the felt security of everyday life. I created Politics & Society to collect reflections and analysis on Sweden’s development, with a special focus on safety, crime, welfare, inclusion and how we build a society where everyone has a place. Here I explore how safety is shaped — in policy, in daily life and in people’s living conditions.
What public safety is really about
Safety is experienced at home, in school, in contact with authorities, at work and in one’s neighbourhood. Real safety grows from trust — that institutions work, that laws apply equally, and that no one is left outside. Only when people feel seen and protected does safety take root.
Safety is a democracy issue. When insecurity spreads, participation falls. It can be a woman avoiding certain streets at night, a young person feeling suspected due to background, or an elderly person who fears opening the door. When safety breaks, so does the social fabric.
Therefore, safety must be seen broadly. It is the rule of law — crimes investigated, independent courts, proportionate sentences — but also prevention: giving children and youth the conditions to succeed, offering support before someone falls. We must build a society where people do not end up on the wrong path — and where a way back exists if they do.
A safe society requires cooperation. Schools, social services, police, healthcare and civil society have to work together — not in silos. Local cooperation between authorities is among the most effective crime-prevention methods, but it needs structure, resources and clear responsibility.
Safety is not a luxury — it is a right. Today insecurity concentrates in some areas while others live relatively undisturbed. Such unequal safety risks creating parallel societies. That is why inclusion and economic participation matter. Read more under Inclusion.
When people feel unseen — or that justice applies only to some — trust erodes. Public safety must therefore rest on fairness, both legal and social. Those who commit crimes must be held accountable, and society must also create hope for the future.
On Societal challenges I link safety to school, labour market, segregation and citizen voice — parts of the same weave. Safety cannot be built in isolation.
We also need to talk about causes of insecurity: socio-economic gaps, school failure, mental ill-health, overcrowding — and political responsibility. Symbolic “quick fixes” are not enough. Real safety demands long-term work, cooperation and the courage to address root causes.
Safety is tied to everyday economy and stress
Household finances and business conditions shape trust and stability. See Economy & everyday life for how economic policy affects safety.
Rebuilding trust — between people, and between individual and society — is essential. Listen to residents in vulnerable areas. See young people as resources, not risks. Show that society cares — before it is too late.
Digitalisation and new technology also affect safety. Cameras and data can help prevention, but they raise integrity and due-process questions. Balancing these is crucial — otherwise we undermine what we want to protect: trust in the rule of law and in each other.
Safety grows or withers in everyday encounters: a respectful guard, a social worker who listens, a functioning school, a local sports club that includes. It is not one reform but a social contract maintained over time.
Creating safety in vulnerable areas is a specific challenge. Beyond enforcement, we must counter alienation by strengthening participation, influence and hope. Work with people, not just statistics.
A sustainable safety policy combines control with trust, security with freedom, prevention with consequences. Think of safety as an ecosystem: from the staircase to the courtroom, from schooling to contact with authorities — everything is connected.
This page gathers texts and analysis on the challenges we face — from safety to climate, economy and hope for the future — to better understand what shapes our present and tomorrow.