SwedenLivingWorld world_2_fill WorldBusiness BusinessSports sports-soccer SportsEntertainmentEntertain

Copenhagen steps up work with young people

In Copenhagen, gang criminals can contact the municipality to protect their younger brothers from being drawn into a conflict. The trust between the parties has taken several years to build up. It is absolutely crucial to stop new recruitment, says unit manager Jesper Blådal Hansen.

» Updated: 07 September 2024, 03:31

» Published: 23 August 2024

Copenhagen steps up work with young people
Photo: Johan Nilsson/TT

Outside a gigantic sports hall in northwestern Copenhagen, young people are moving around on inline skates as well as children from Nordsjælland's affluent families.

In an office at the hall, municipal employees are working to prevent recruitment to criminal gangs.

If the young people are not integrated, we will lose the battle against gang crime. Stable schooling, leisure activities, and cultural exchange reduce the risk of being drawn in, says Blådal Hansen.

Unlike Sweden and Belgium, we have not had parallel societies to the same extent. Here, the City of Copenhagen has invested early in vulnerable residential areas.

Swedes create uncertainty

After the latest wave of violence in the Danish capital, where several Swedish teenagers have been arrested suspected of serious crimes, the preventive work has been stepped up.

That we do it after a conflict is nothing new. Now it's about something entirely new where digital media play a major role. It has created uncertainty and many young people feel unsafe. Therefore, we must show that we are here and that we want the best for them.

To reach the young people, it's also about building a relationship with older gang criminals, emphasizes Blådal Hansen.

We have a broad network of contacts, but it's not something that has come overnight. It can take 50 conversations before they feel safe sharing things.

Want to protect their brothers

In the office, a hotline is open 24/7 to receive calls, even from gang criminals when it comes to a serious situation.

We can receive calls from gang criminals who ask us to keep an extra eye on their little brothers. Many do not want their close relatives to be drawn into the same environment, and then the whole society must be there.

At other times, they can act as mediators:

A concrete example is when I received a call from a person who told me that his nephew had been mistaken for a criminal. It took less than 24 hours for us to clear up the situation, says Blådal Hansen.

Abolished confidentiality

In Denmark, the police also play a role in the preventive work. Since the 1990s, the country has abolished confidentiality between social services, schools, and the police.

The paragraph allows us to catch young people early, and it works well for many of those we come into contact with. Here in the sports hall, they can train together with nice people who come from Nordsjælland to play golf.

Tags
TTT
By TTThis article has been altered and translated by Sweden Herald

More news

Dog Under Beauty Procedures – Flaws Revealed
3 MIN READ

Dog Under Beauty Procedures – Flaws Revealed

The Security Service Chief: Gangs Infiltrate Everywhere
2 MIN READ

The Security Service Chief: Gangs Infiltrate Everywhere

Boy arrested for murder plans in Malmö
1 MIN READ

Boy arrested for murder plans in Malmö

Pausing the hacked healthcare system - forced to write by hand
1 MIN READ

Pausing the hacked healthcare system - forced to write by hand

Ministers' banana phobia gets support from the opposition
1 MIN READ

Ministers' banana phobia gets support from the opposition

Dog Under Beauty Procedures – Flaws Revealed
3 MIN READ

Dog Under Beauty Procedures – Flaws Revealed

Israeli company was warned before explosion attempt
1 MIN READ

Israeli company was warned before explosion attempt

Man Charged with Rapes at Hospital
1 MIN READ

Man Charged with Rapes at Hospital

Over 100 Received Wrong Vaccine
1 MIN READ

Over 100 Received Wrong Vaccine

Woman wanted to be named Marijuana – gets no
1 MIN READ

Woman wanted to be named Marijuana – gets no

Large Spill in Gothenburg Harbor
1 MIN READ

Large Spill in Gothenburg Harbor

Two authorities warned about suspected benefit fraud
1 MIN READ

Two authorities warned about suspected benefit fraud

Powerful Fire in Vimmerby – Apartments Evacuated
1 MIN READ

Powerful Fire in Vimmerby – Apartments Evacuated

Hundreds of asbestos removals breached regulations
1 MIN READ

Hundreds of asbestos removals breached regulations

The Police Are Demanded to Answer About Palestine Protests
2 MIN READ

The Police Are Demanded to Answer About Palestine Protests

Sweden became a symbol of Islamophobic West
3 MIN READ

Sweden became a symbol of Islamophobic West

Car Fire Closed the Öresund Bridge
1 MIN READ

Car Fire Closed the Öresund Bridge

Laughter a prescription for dry eyes
1 MIN READ

Laughter a prescription for dry eyes

Teenage boy suspected of rape
1 MIN READ

Teenage boy suspected of rape

Long prison sentence for shots at residential buildings
1 MIN READ

Long prison sentence for shots at residential buildings