Dags att gå hem? En studie om krogarnas förändrade stängningstider och våldsbrotten i Göteborg

Abstract

In august 2013 the politicians in Gothenburg restricted pub closing time to 3 a.m. on Friday nights. The purpose was to reduce nighttime assaults in the city center. The aim of this thesis is to examine the effect on violence after the changes in bar closing hours in Gothenburg. Are the advocates for reduced hours of operation correct in assuming that reduced hours of operation will lead to less violent crimes? The theoretical framework in the thesis is primary a Routine Activity Approach by Cohen and Felson, where opportunity for crime is discussed. Violent situations are also discussed based on Collins Emotional Field of Tension and Fear. A descriptive time series design with data from Sahlgrenska accident and emergency department, police recorded assaults and Västtrafiks incidents reports. All the incidents are from the years 2012, 2013 and the beginning of 2014 and as a part of the method the years have been mutually compared. The data is delimited to Friday nights from 6 p.m. to 7 a.m. Saturday mornings and to Saturday nights from 6 p.m. to 7.a.m. Sunday mornings. Results: The combined data from the A&E department at Sahlgrenska and the assaults recorded by the police show a decrease in night-time assaults on Friday nights after the restriction. The night-time assaults on Saturdays increased slightly; however, the data shows a decrease in night-time assaults when Friday and Saturday nights were combined.