How are we to combat crime with a severe impact on society in the future? Some types of crime involve high socio-economic costs and may also have a negative impact on our democratic system in the long run. Some examples of key values that may suffer or that we may lose as a result of crime include security, trust, freedom, fair competition and the rule of law. The project timeframe is 2022–2024.
Emelie Lekebjer, Project Manager, +46 737 53 32 07, emelie.lekebjer@sns.se.
Louise Lorentzon, Research Director, +46 707 91 21 72, louise.lorentzon@sns.se.
Mikael Witterblad, Head of Research Programme, mikael.witterblad@sns.se.
According to the Swedish National Council for Crime Prevention, almost half the Swedish population is currently very concerned regarding crime in society. Crime and perceived insecurity affect the entire society, even though the risk of being exposed to crime is unevenly distributed and affects different areas and individuals to varying degrees.
Explosions, car fires, gun violence, open drug trafficking and fatal violence in the public sphere are visible crimes receiving a great deal of attention in the media and in current debates. Crime may have an impact on aspects such as where people want to settle as well as their willingness to testify and move freely in society or engage in business ventures in areas considered insecure. Threats and less visible forms of violence can also affect people’s security and freedom.
Threats, blackmail and violence against public officials and elected representatives may in the long-term lead to a fear of making certain decisions or reduce people’s willingness to enter elections or participate in the public debate. Money laundering and crimes directed at various parts of the welfare system may in the long run affect citizens’ trust in society and its institutions.
Crimes such as fraud, theft and blackmail may play a role in the ability of companies to operate based on fair competition.
All of society is needed to reduce crime
Combating crime and ensuring security for citizens is a fundamental task for the public sector. Government agencies both within and outside the judicial system are needed in the fight against crime, and they have various tools at their disposal in these efforts.
Civil society and the business sector, parts of society not always associated with law enforcement and the judiciary, also play an important role in preventing and combating crime. This not only applies to preventive measures before law enforcement intervenes, but also to efforts in terms of assisting the judiciary in combating crime and relapses into criminal behavior. The same applies to efforts to reintegrate former convicts into society after having served their sentence.
Effective legislation and collaborations play a key role in the fight against crime, both at the local and international level. Here, different organizational conditions and laws relating to privacy and the sharing of information may also play a role.
Crime changes simultaneously with society. These changes require new knowledge and identifying new patterns.
This project is launched by SNS to contribute with new knowledge and a basis for discussions and solutions. The project aims to fill gaps in knowledge by publishing surveys and analyses on trends in crime and reports on the effects of initiatives aimed at reducing or combating different types of crime, as well as by compiling existing Swedish and international research in this field in easily accessible overviews.
There is also a growing research literature involving empirical impact analyses of measures aimed at preventing, combating and reducing relapses into criminal behavior. This project will involve researchers from different disciplines while also presenting different perspectives. Research and lessons from other countries will also be presented.
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The EU’s fight against organized crime 2023.04.24
Social Policies as Crime Control 2022.11.22
Gun violence – what do we know and what to do? 2022.08.19
Social Policies as Crime Control 2022.11.22
Segregation, exposed areas and children’s opportunities in life
The researchers study the extent to which segregation and socio-economically exposed residential areas affect children’s opportunities in life. In order to do so, they utilize an extensive data material. The researchers also carry out a unique survey of how the media have reported on these areas since the 1980s.
Authors: Hans Grönqvist, professor of economics at Linnaeus University, Susan Niknami, researcher in economics at the Swedish Institute for Social Research, Stockholm University, and Torsten Santavirta, researcher in economics at the Institute for Housing and Urban Research, Uppsala University.
To be published: spring 2023.
What do defector initiatives look like in different Swedish municipalities? Who is responsible for what and how much resources are allocated toward such initiatives? What is needed to increase the effectiveness of these initiatives? In the report, the author analyzes defector initiatives in three major Swedish municipalities and discusses improvements based on existing research literature and the experiences of the municipalities themselves.
Author: Anna Hedlund, researcher in social anthropology at Lund University.
To be published: fall 2023
Thousands of children in Sweden are each year placed in out-of-home care following a decision by the social services or the courts. This report examines the possible effects of being placed in out-of-home care on future criminal behavior. Based on Swedish and other Nordic studies, in addition to a number of non-Nordic, high-quality causal studies, the report analyzes questions such as: What characterizes a successful placement? For which children does being placed in out-of-home-care have a positive effect and for which does it have a negative effect? Is there room for improvement in the current system? If so, what should be prioritized?
Author: Matthew Lindquist, professor of economics at the Swedish Institute for Social Research (SOFI), Stockholm University
To be published: fall 2023
Swedish institutions have turned out to be vulnerable to infiltration, corruption and welfare fraud. The Swedish public administration model is currently being challenged by criminal actors, not only by individuals but also by various groups. This report summarizes international research and experiences on how this process may take place. The report particularly highlights vulnerabilities at the local level (i.e., municipalities).
Author: Carina Gunnarson, associate professor of political science and researcher at the Swedish Defence Research Agency (FOI) and the Institute for Futures Studies (IFFS).
To be published: fall 2023
Coercive measures – such as detention, strip searches and covertly intercepting electronic communications – are essential for investigating crimes while, at the same time, also restricting people’s fundamental rights and freedoms. The report not only discusses various types of commonly used coercive measures, such as searching premises and seizing property, but also the new coercive measure of covert data surveillance. Is Swedish legislation in line with the European Convention on Human Rights? Are any changes required in the current legislation or how it is applied by government agencies? If so, which types of changes?
Author: Mattias Hjertstedt, assistant professor at the Department of Law, Umeå University, as well as tied to the Police Education Unit, Umeå University
To be published: winter 2023
To what extent do different types of police operations and camera surveillance affect crime? The report contains surveys and analyses of both historical and modern police reforms in Sweden and lessons from international and Swedish research on police operations and camera surveillance. Based on these analyses, the researcher seeks to draw conclusions on whether these measures have been justified from a socio-economic perspective.
Author: Mikael Priks, professor of economics at Stockholm University.
To be published: 2024
Criminal companies are able to operate without taking legislation into account and can thus offer lower prices and attain a better position when competing with legitimate companies. What are the costs of organized crime for companies and how are we to address this problem?
Author: Carina Gunnarson, associate professor of political science and researcher at the Swedish Defence Research Agency (FOI) and the Institute for Futures Studies (IFFS).
To be published: fall 2024
A large share of crime is committed by repeat offenders. How can we reduce recidivism? This report highlights research in the field and informs us of what we know and do not know regarding the determinants of recidivism.
Author: Randi Hjalmarsson, professor of economics at the University of Gothenburg
To be published: fall 2024
Akavia, Avarn Security, City of Gothenburg, City of Malmö, City of Stockholm, Confederation of Swedish Enterprise, Fryshuset, Insurance Sweden, Mellby Gård, Ministry of Finance, MKB fastighets, Swedish Bar Association, Swedish Enforcement Authority, Swedish National Courts Administration, Swedish Police Authority, Swedish Police Union, Swedish Prison and Probation Service, Swedish Property Federation, Swedish Prosecution Authority, Swedish Public Employment Service, Swedish Social Insurance Agency, Swedish Supermarket Owners’ Association, Swedish Tax Agency.