New report shows that more knowledge is needed about evidence-based measures to fight criminal networks

The Swedish Government has tasked the Swedish Research Council to map research into initiatives, measures, and methods for preventing criminality linked to criminal networks. The report that has now been produced provides an overall picture of the methods that work and do not work, and how these methods are evaluated.

Results from studies in USA in particular show, among other things, that school-based programmes can lead to fewer pupils being recruited by criminal gangs, and to fewer pupils carrying weapons. Environmental improvements in socially exposed aras can also have some crime-prevention effects, and re-purchasing programmes for guns and ‘hot-spot policing’ can reduce gun-based violence. But what is of particular importance for preventing crime and reducing the use of guns are psycho-social initaitives, and initiatives to prevent recidivism.

When it comes to Sweden’s ability to evaluate crime prevention initiatives and methods, the authors of the report emphasise that more knowledge is needed about scientific methods for evaluation. Evaluations that are of insufficiently high quality risk portraying initiatives wrongly as being effective, when this is not the case.

Five recommendations for preventing criminality

Through more effective science communication, better collaboration between public agencies, practitioners, and researchers, and increased competence in making scientific evaluations, Sweden can address the challenges that organised criminality entail.

The report highlights five recommendations for improving the future work on preventing criminality linked to criminal networks:

• Start from initiatives with good evidence
• Improve access to research results
• Promote collaboration between research and practice
• Develop client competence
• Investigate how the national evaluation ability can be improved.

Read the report "Insatser, åtgärder och metoder för att förebygga brottslighet kopplad till kriminella nätverk – evidens, behov och förmåga" (in Swedish)