In connection with the updating of Finland’s strategy and action plan to tackle organized crime, it was useful to find out how organized crime is prevented in Sweden and Denmark. Nordic societies are similar in many respects, and the prevention of organized crime has been more systematic in Sweden and Denmark than in Finland. The starting point of the project was to learn from and utilize the best methods of these countries and to gather experiences of new effective measures in the prevention of organized crime.
In many respects, Finland’s strategy and measures are similar to those considered and implemented in Denmark and Sweden. In addition to the content of individual measures, there is similarity in the duration and diversity of the control measures. The coherent operating model is based on the pursuit of effectiveness, which is best achieved when crime prevention measures are long-term and diverse and target a wide range of crimes.
The report “Prevention of Organized Crime in Denmark and Sweden. Observations of Measures and their Impact” by the Police University College and the Institute of Criminology and Legal Policy of the University of Helsinki is an excellent and concise summary of the measures taken in Sweden and Denmark to prevent organized crime. The project has been carried out in good Nordic cooperation. Funding for the project was received from the Nordic Council of Ministers. The study visits to the Danish and Swedish Ministries of Justice and the police, and to the Swedish National Council for Crime Prevention (Brå) were successful. During the visits, we gained valuable first-hand practical information on the prevention of organized crime and the challenges involved, as well as new partners for the future prevention of organized crime.
The publication of the report in English and the joint Nordic final webinar will promote the wider usability of the results in the Nordic countries and beyond. Many thanks to the parties and contributors who made the project possible.
Mika Junninen
Senior Advisor, Ministry of Justice, Finland
Chair of the working group preparing the Finnish strategy against organized crime