Sweden invests heavily in social security

The Swedish government plans to invest 750 million Swedish krona (94 million U.S. dollars) next year to make Sweden a safer place, according to an announcement on Tuesday.

"Sweden should be a country where everyone can be safe, regardless of where they live," Prime Minister Stefan Lofven said in a statement published on the government's website.

The statement outlined investments from within the new budget proposition, which is based on an agreement between the center-left coalition government and the Left Party.

The government is planning to invest a total 2 billion Swedish krona in the National Police Authority in 2018, a move that it says will lead to more police officers, an improved work environment and new career routes for members of the police force, as well as improvement in crime-clearance rates.

In addition to the police budget boost, the government is also investing around 750 million Swedish krona next year in strengthening the judicial system and in increasing public safety.

The government is also boosting efforts to fight violent extremism by spending 100 million Swedish krona in directed efforts. In addition, on Jan. 1 2018, it is setting up a new national center against violent extremism.

"The new center's stated ambition is to support local actors," said Minister for Justice and Home Affairs Morgan Johansson. According to the budget proposition, the Swedish Migration Agency will also receive additional funds to help efforts to repatriate failed asylum seekers.

Gang-related violence hits headlines in recent years. Most of the gun violence occurs in the country's three biggest cities -- Stockholm, Gothenburg, and Malmo -- where there are growing problems with violent gangs.