Breaking the circle: A crime preventative project aimed to prevent the recruitment of youth to gang‑related criminality

The recruitment of young people for gang-related criminality is a serious societal problem. Previous research has shown that young people as young as 12 years old are being recruited into serious, violent criminality. However, research regarding how young people percieve and understand gang-related criminality in the southern and mid-parts of Norrland is lacking. This is a serious gap in our current knowledge regarding gang-related criminality among youth as the findings of research from Sweden’s larger cities may not be generalizable for this part of the country. The aim of this project is therefore to explore the recruitment of young people for gang-related criminality in the southern and mid-parts of Norrland using an intersectional perspective, as well as examining how this recruitment can be prevented. This in order to try to prevent young people, both boys and girls, from being recruited to such criminality. The project will use a digital survey aimed at young people as well as conduct interviews with youth, both girls and boys, and informants. The informants will be key people working with different aspects of crime preventative work in the different municipalities. Overall, this project aims to provide deeper knowledge regarding how young people in the southern and mid-parts of Norrland understands gang-related criminality, why youth are attracted to this type of crime, and how we can prevent the recruitment of young people for gang-related criminality in the North of Sweden.