The Swedish police have identified nearly 9,000 individuals involved in criminal gang activity, with a stark gender disparity: only around 300 are women. Johan Sjöstrand, deputy local police area chief in Gothenburg Nordost, questions this low representation, suspecting a significant underreporting of women’s involvement in crime. Returning to Hjällbo, a district where he once patrolled, Sjöstrand acknowledges a previous oversight, having focused primarily on male actors. He now recognizes the existence of a ”pink law book,” a phenomenon where women seemingly evade consequences for actions that would lead to arrests for men. He believes a substantial number of women in Nordost operate undetected, acting as both perpetrators and instigators of crime.
A two-year EU-funded project, ”A Blind Spot,” aims to address this oversight by fostering collaboration between police, social services, and healthcare professionals. The project has three key objectives: identifying and supporting at-risk girls and women, establishing interagency cooperation and shared understanding, and disseminating the acquired knowledge. The project partners are scrutinizing the circumstances surrounding these women, questioning the source of unexplained wealth and examining their roles within criminal networks. They consider a range of involvement, from young girls groomed into criminal activity, similar to the exploitation of ”errand boys,” to older women actively participating in criminal ventures alongside their partners.
The collaboration includes trauma-trained midwives from the Sexual Medical Center (SMC Pilen), whose expertise is considered invaluable. These professionals highlight the layered vulnerability of the women involved, who often experience greater sexual exploitation and hold lower positions within criminal hierarchies compared to their male counterparts. Social services currently work with 14 girls and women within the ”A Blind Spot” framework. These individuals may not be directly involved in criminal activities themselves, but they exist within high-risk environments. The police echo this observation, noting that the women they encounter range from victims to perpetrators, and often embody both roles simultaneously. Some women are coerced into crime, while others exploit their perceived invisibility to their advantage.
To facilitate collaboration, police and social services share office space in Hjällbo, with social workers specializing in youth issues stationed near Sjöstrand’s office. This close proximity fosters communication and streamlines joint efforts. Sjöstrand introduces the term ”green ladies” to describe women who appear outwardly respectable, with legitimate employment and social lives, effectively masking their involvement in criminal networks. These women, undetected by traditional law enforcement methods, are valuable assets to criminal organizations.
Midway through the project, Sjöstrand reports tangible results. At least four women, between the ages of 20 and 30, were apprehended for various offenses directly resulting from the project’s initiatives. These women, involved in drug storage and money laundering, likely would have remained undetected without the focused attention of ”A Blind Spot.” Their arrests demonstrate the project’s effectiveness in uncovering hidden criminal activity.
Sjöstrand observes a shift in reporting practices within the police force, indicating a growing awareness of women’s roles in crime. While a comprehensive evaluation is premature, the project’s impact is already evident. ”A Blind Spot” is scheduled to conclude in November 2025, with the hope of leaving a lasting legacy of improved interagency cooperation and a more nuanced understanding of female involvement in organized crime. The project aims not only to identify and prosecute offenders, but also to support vulnerable women and girls, helping them navigate away from the dangers of criminal environments.
