City level responses to Covid19

To get an understanding of the Covid-19 situation in the Nordic cities we asked prevention coordinators from a broad spectrum of the Nordic cities to give their views and experiences, 5 weeks after the first countries started to lock-down due to Covid-19. Below is a summary of the perspectives.

We continue to gather insights from our member cities during the next weeks, enable cities to meet at our online meeting spaces, and share dilemmas and recommendations to keep their communities and streets safe.

Observations on hate, violence and crime during the Covid19 crisis

The Nordic member cities we have talked to currently experience a calmer situation than normally. Crime rates are down, and so far, none of the cities we have spoken to report a clear increase in hate crime, polarization or extremism. Looking to the near future, the cities do however see the potential for this with the rise in disinformation and conspiracy theories surrounding Covid-19. There are further concerns that the crisis and additional time spent online may create greater risks of radicalisation, extremists recruiting vulnerable persons and online grooming.

Continuous layoffs from workplaces cause concern, and cities are seeing an increase in unemployed young adults who may be drawn to the streets. Closed borders additionally pose significant barriers for drug trade and may lead to conflicts between groupings who deal with drugs. There are further concerns that domestic violence, abuse and child neglect may already or will increase the longer households are isolated.

Can digital support replace physical presence? Dilemmas and challenges in cities

In general, cities worry for how long, and if, digital support can fully replace physical support. It is difficult to reach vulnerable children, adolescents (and adults) in a time when there is little physical contact, and many public contact points are gone or transformed digitally.

Child welfare services are experiencing considerably fewer referrals, while children’s rights and support hotlines are seeing significant increases in calls. Sweden’s national organization for children’s rights has noticed a 30% increase in conversations, while the equivalent organization in Denmark has recorded that corona related calls are the second most prevalent (14%). Children are concerned about their health and families, parents losing jobs, divorced parents arguing about shared custody during quarantine, being isolated with an abusive or alcoholic parent, feeling lonely, and difficulties following distance learning.

Most upper secondary school pupils are doing well following online lessons, and school welfare teams are reaching out and supporting pupils who may lack resources or find distance learning challenging. The majority of youth are staying home and following their schooling. Though some young people are meeting up, mainly in disadvantaged areas, and are receiving negative backlash on social media. City officials are emphasising that these young people often come from unstable or even dangerous home environments.

How to operate and keep contact during Covid19

As youth clubs are closed or limiting access, outreach social work has been strengthened to maintain a dialogue with youth environments. In addition to outreach work on the streets, youth clubs have been converted to the online space. Cities use social media platforms to connect with young people and provide forums where they can ask questions and confidentially express their concerns. Those in need to receive counseling through follow-up calls or chat functions. Parents can also receive tele-counseling.

Cities and public officials are preparing for a long-term situation and adapting to a new reality by expanding existing services and finding new approaches to deal with social concerns.

The Nordic cities believe that meeting online and exchanging experiences between cities and municipalities is, as usual, important and particularly useful in this time.

Thank you to Kristiansand, Larvik, Tønsberg, Bærum, Bydel Søndre Nordstrand in Oslo, Sarpsborg, Fredrikstad in Norway, Aalborg in Denmark, and Gothenburg in Sweden for contributing with their experiences and perspectives from their everyday during Covid-19.