STOCKHOLM: Swedish police have announced that they will offer young women wristbands to prevent the sexual attack.
The wristband will bear the slogan “POLICEAVSPÄRRAT #tafsainte” [Police cordon, don’t grope], RT reported.
Swedish Police Chief Dan Eliasson said in a press release: “By wearing these wristbands, young women will be able to make a stand. No one should have to accept sexual molestation. So do not grope. And if you are groped, report it to the police.”
The main goal of the step is to “draw attention to the issue, and urge those affected to report,” he added.
Eliasson said, “We’re hoping mainly that this will get boys to think twice. A lot of them don’t seem to realize that this is a crime.”
Police Chief also described types of attacks that “many young people recognize too well.” This could include “a hand tucked between the legs”, “a hug from behind in the crush at a club or festival”, and “one person holding somebody while another grabs their breasts.”
As per a Swedish police report, the country has the worst rates of sexual violence against women in Europe.
“Sweden tops the new EU Statistics on physical and sexual violence against women, sexual harassment and stalking. The conclusion is that the results are a consequence of Nordic alcohol culture, but also of non-traditional gender roles,” the report said.
In most of the crimes, men were unable to “handle the alcohol,” simply felt “horny,” having “ignorance of the consequences for the girls” or “misplaced feelings,”“expressing anger in this way” or acting due to “peer pressure.”
Migrants are also blamed for some of the crimes and migrant sex gangs have been reportedly attacking girls between 12 to 17 years old over the past two summers at the Stockholm music festival.
Thirty-six reports of sexual assault and two rape allegations were filed after the festivals in 2014 and 2015, the Local reported.
