Boden remains a safe community – even as the municipality grows

The Region North Safety Survey 2025 was conducted by Origo Group and is based on responses from residents of Boden aged 16–85. The survey is part of a broader study in northern Sweden and describes residents’ perceptions of safety, fear of crime, victimization, and trust in public authorities.

The survey shows that relatively few residents in Boden report having been victims of crime.

For example, 0.7 percent say they have experienced vandalism in a storage unit, basement, or garage at least once during the past 12 months. Levels of violence against individuals are also low. Among respondents, 0.9 percent report having been subjected to violence in their own home, and 0.5 percent in someone else’s home. Rates are also low in other locations.

Concern exists – but victimization remains low

At the same time, the survey shows that concern about certain crimes does exist, such as fear of burglary or vandalism. This pattern can also be seen in other parts of northern Sweden.

In Boden, 19 percent say they have worried during the past year about being assaulted or attacked in the area where they live. This means that concern about violence is higher than the actual level of victimization.

Temporary population growth during the survey period

During the period in which the survey was conducted, Boden experienced a substantial increase in the number of people living in the municipality. Approximately 3,000 temporary workers have been staying in Boden, with the majority living in the municipality on a temporary basis.

This has brought noticeable changes to everyday life, with more people moving around and increased pressure on local services and community functions.

Despite this, the safety survey shows that Boden continues to be perceived as a safe place to live. One clear indicator is that almost nine out of ten residents say they are not afraid of any specific individuals in their residential area.

“It reflects the picture we have of Boden”

Alf Wennskog, Safety Officer at the Municipality of Boden and responsible for the municipality’s crime prevention work, believes the results align well with the municipality’s everyday experience.

– This reflects the picture we have of Boden. It is a safe place, even at a time when the municipality is growing rapidly. At the same time, safety does not happen by itself. We prioritize crime prevention measures and cooperation between the municipality, public authorities, and Stegra in order to maintain safety, says Alf Wennskog.

The police also view the survey as a valuable basis for ongoing safety efforts.

– The survey complements the police’s situational awareness with residents’ perspectives. It helps us prioritize the right local measures together with the municipality, says Sarah Ekbom, community police officer in Boden.

High trust – but limited awareness

The survey shows that trust in the municipality, the police, and other community actors is generally high in Boden. This is an important part of the overall sense of safety.

At the same time, the results show that many residents are not aware of the municipality’s crime prevention efforts. When asked whether the municipality actively works with safety and crime prevention, 36 percent say they agree fully or partly, while 46 percent say they do not know.

Alf Wennskog believes this is an important signal.

– It shows that we need to become even better at making visible the crime prevention work that is actually taking place and that is a prioritized part of the municipality’s operations, he says.