Page 322 - (DK Eyewitness) Travel Guide - Sweden

320  SUR VIV AL GUIDE

Personal Security and Health

Sweden is a safe destination compared with most countries
in the world. You needn’t worry about natural disasters such
as earthquakes or hurricanes. Crime does occur, with some
cities suffering more than others, but this is rarely a concern
for tourists. However, it is important to lock the car and hide
valuables when parked. Look out for pickpockets in the
summer and avoid the empty, commercial parts of city
centres late at night. Sweden has a well-developed network
of emergency services which travellers can call on. Rescue
services and hospital emergency clinics are highly efficient.
Policeman Guard
over the function of the police.
They are a common feature
in department stores, at train
and Tunnelbana stations and
as car patrols.
Stockholm, Gothenburg
and Malmö are safe to stroll
Police car around on foot. Stockholm’s
Tunnelbana (underground
Protecting Property
offer to help, but are actually railway) is efficient and
Although Sweden is a compara­ after your money or card. comfortable, as well as being
tively safe place, tourists can safe at most times. CCTV
still run into trouble at times. security systems are installed
Especially in the summer Personal Safety at some stations, squares,
months, the many popular The Swedish police are generally department stores and shops.
events attract bag­snatchers extremely helpful and speak Beware the strict rules
and pickpockets. In the cities good English. Police patrolling regarding alcohol, drugs and
and in crowded public areas on foot or in cars are a routine some medications when driving.
visitors should be particularly sight in the cities, and mounted A driver is guilty of drunk driving
careful to keep an eye on their police are often in evidence at with a blood alcohol level of
property, especially handbags special events. In the suburbs, only 0.2 per mil and gross
and cameras. Avoid using however, police can be thin on drunk driving (from 1.0 per mil)
unmanned cloakrooms at the ground. Not all towns have is punishable by imprisonment.
restaurants and museums. evening and night police patrols The possession of drugs is illegal.
Valuables and personal and even fewer have open Breaking traffic rules,
documents should always be police stations. particularly speed limits, may
locked in the hotel safe. It is In many places, uniformed lead to hefty fines.
equally important not to leave security guards have taken For some years it has been
any valuables in your illegal to buy sexual services
car; ideally, choose a in Sweden so it is the buyer,
hotel with its own not the prostitute, who is
parking facilities. prosecuted. Street prostitutes
There is no need to are now a very rare sight in
carry large amounts the inner cities.
of cash. All major
credit and debit Lost Property
cards are
accepted in Lost or stolen property should
virtually all be reported to the nearest
shops and police station. A police report
restaurants, will be needed for any insurance
and cash claim. In addition to the police
machines are lost property offices (Polisens
common, at least in Hittegodsexpedition), large
larger places. When towns and cities have lost
taking out cash, property offices
watch out for (Hittegodsavdelning) at railway
conmen who may Mounted police stations, bus stations and

320-321_EW_Sweden.indd 320 11/07/16 11:51 am
Eyewitness Travel LAYERS PRINTED:
Practical template “UK” LAYER
(Source v1.6)
Date 7th January 2013
Size 125mm x 217mm