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CRIME

University given go ahead to expel convicted murderer

A decision by the county administrative court in Stockholm means that Uppsala University can expel a convicted murderer enrolled in medical studies at the school, according to the National Board of Health and Welfare (Socialstyrelsen).

Published: 22 January 2009 07:02 CET

Whether the university has began the expulsion process is unclear since the student’s identity is protected and those responsible can only discuss the principles involved, according to the Upsala Nya Tidning (UNT) newspaper.

The ruling referenced by the welfare board concerns a medical student in Lund who was convicted of child rape.

The Stockholm county administrative court heard the case after a higher education disciplinary board (Högskolans avskiljandenämnd) denied a request to expel the Lund student.

The welfare board holds that Uppsala University can request a similar hearing for the student convicted of murder who is currently studying to become a doctor.

University lawyer Magnus Hallberg said that “for the present time” no request to expel anyone has been sent to the disciplinary board, which is the first body to hear such requests, according to UNT.

“I don’t know what the result will be. The judgment in the Stockholm county administrative court concerns someone who committed a crime recently. How the court would view an older crime is something else,” said Hallberg.

CRIME

Danish neighbourhood watches keep Christmas burglaries in check

The number of burglaries reported in Denmark this Christmas remained at the historic lows seen in 2022, with the country's Crime Prevention Council giving credit to its neighbourhood watch app.

Published: 3 January 2024 17:00 CET
Danish neighbourhood watches keep Christmas burglaries in check

Just 660 burglaries were reported between December 19th 2023 and January 1st 2024, more or less level with the 559 recorded the previous year. 

This is a historically low level, with 1,343 burglaries reported over Christmas as recently as 2019, with the Nabohjælp app, a joint venture between the Crime Prevention Council and TrygFonden perhaps playing a role.  

“There are many indications that the Danes have become very good at helping their neighbors during the holidays and also tricking burglars into thinking that someone is home in the many houses that have been empty during the Christmas holidays,” Julie Kofoed, communications consultant for Nabohjælp, said in a press release. 

“Nabohjælp is about cooperation between neighbours, so that you make sure that each other’s homes are always kept an eye on.”

The app, which was launched by the Crime Prevention Council, together with the insurance company TrygFonden, has been downloaded by 270,000 people in Denmark, and its spin-off Nabovenner, or “neighbour friends”, numbers as many as 1,000 volunteers, who run networks of Nabohjælpere, or “neighbourhood helpers” in their areas. 

“Neighbor friends are enthusiasts who promote neighborly assistance where they live,” Kofoed said. “We are convinced that Neighbor Friends play a decisive role in getting the neighborhood helpers activated, around the whole of Denmark and especially in the areas plagued by burglaries.” 

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