A recent briefing by the European Parliamentary Research Service has highlighted the increasing trend of gang violence across the EU, with countries like Belgium, the Netherlands, Spain, Germany, and France being particularly affected. One concerning aspect is the recruitment of minors into organized crime and terrorism groups, prompting countries like Sweden to introduce legislation allowing wiretapping of children under 15 to combat rising bombings. Eurostat data shows that 10% of EU citizens have reported experiencing crime, violence, or vandalism in their local area, with the number rising to 12.3% for those at risk of poverty.
While Europe is still one of the continents least affected by organized crime, criminal networks are expected to become more globalized, digitalized, and diverse, leading to an increase in organized crime-related violence. Countries with the highest rates of people reporting local violence include Greece, the Netherlands, Bulgaria, France, Spain, and Belgium. Greece has seen a rise in football fan violence, resulting in stadium closures and stricter regulation of fan clubs.
On the flip side, Croatia, Lithuania, Poland, Slovakia, and Estonia are considered the safest countries, with local crime rates below 5%. Overall, the briefing warns of the escalating competition between criminal groups and the potential for further violence in the EU.
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