Swedish 'baby boomer' crime on the rise: agency
The number of elderly criminal suspects in Sweden is increasing, according to fresh figures from the Swedish National Council for Crime Prevention (Brottsförebyggande rådet, Brå).
In 2001, the number of suspects in criminal investigations over the age of 50 was about 11,000. By last year, the number had increased to 21,000.
“It reflects the development of society in general. The older generation is more active nowadays. They travel more, they get married later in life – and they commit more crimes,” said Sven Granath, criminologist at Brå, to Swedish daily Svenska Dagbladet (SvD).
Fishing offences are at the top of the list of crimes committed by the more mature Swedish criminal at 42 percent.
Meanwhile, 33 percent are suspected of indecent exposure offences and another 33 percent of drunk driving.
In addition, 28 percent have purchased sex and 19 percent are under suspicion for other various sexual offences.
Violent crimes committed by the older generation are uncommon, however.
Only 1.5 percent of the mature suspects are involved in aggravated robbery and one percent are under suspicion of mugging or burglary.
Only two Swedes over 50 have been caught actively defacing public property.
According to Brå, the so called “baby boomers”, people born in the 1940s, are extra likely to commit an offence and are the reason behind why criminal behaviour is on the rise among Sweden’s older generation.
“There is a larger share of them who end up facing criminal charges than in both previous and later generations. They grew up during a time of large scale social upheaval with more drugs about and less social control,” Granath told the paper.
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In 2001, the number of suspects in criminal investigations over the age of 50 was about 11,000. By last year, the number had increased to 21,000.
“It reflects the development of society in general. The older generation is more active nowadays. They travel more, they get married later in life – and they commit more crimes,” said Sven Granath, criminologist at Brå, to Swedish daily Svenska Dagbladet (SvD).
Fishing offences are at the top of the list of crimes committed by the more mature Swedish criminal at 42 percent.
Meanwhile, 33 percent are suspected of indecent exposure offences and another 33 percent of drunk driving.
In addition, 28 percent have purchased sex and 19 percent are under suspicion for other various sexual offences.
Violent crimes committed by the older generation are uncommon, however.
Only 1.5 percent of the mature suspects are involved in aggravated robbery and one percent are under suspicion of mugging or burglary.
Only two Swedes over 50 have been caught actively defacing public property.
According to Brå, the so called “baby boomers”, people born in the 1940s, are extra likely to commit an offence and are the reason behind why criminal behaviour is on the rise among Sweden’s older generation.
“There is a larger share of them who end up facing criminal charges than in both previous and later generations. They grew up during a time of large scale social upheaval with more drugs about and less social control,” Granath told the paper.
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