Swedish National Council for Crime Prevention (Brottsförebyggande rådet)

NordenBladet – The Swedish National Council for Crime Prevention (Swedish: Brottsförebyggande rådet, abbreviated Brå) is a Swedish government agency organized under the Ministry of Justice, and acts as a center for research and development within the judicial system.

Brå primarily works to reduce crime and improve levels of safety in society by producing data and disseminating knowledge on crime and crime prevention work. The Council also produces Sweden’s official crime statistics, evaluates reforms, conducts research to develop new knowledge and provides support to local crime prevention work. The results of Brå’s work are a basis for decision makers within the judicial system, the Riksdag and the Government. Brå often works in collaboration with other organizations and public sector agencies.

About Brå
The Swedish National Council for Crime Prevention (Brottsförebyggande rådet or Brå for short) is a knowledge centre for the criminal justice system.

Brå is an agency under the auspices of the Ministry of Justice and a knowledge centre for the criminal justice system. The agency’s mandate is to contribute to the development of knowledge within the criminal justice system and the criminal policy area, as well as to promote crime prevention work.

Brå is responsible for the official criminal statistics and other statistics, which includes producing, following, analysing, and reporting on criminality and the criminal justice system’s responses to crime. For that purpose, Brå generates statistics which are based on large-scale surveys and other special data collection.

As an equally central task, Brå initiates and conducts research and development work which provides the agencies of the criminal justice system with a suitable basis for measures and prioritisations, as well as regularly assists the Government with criminal policy issues. The agency follows and analyses criminality and societal reactions to crime, and develops new sources of knowledge in the area. In addition, Brå assists the agencies of the criminal justice system by providing support which contributes to the development and improved efficiency of their activities.

Brå’s mandate also includes developing national support and coordination for local crime prevention work. The need for high quality entails close contacts with universities and other institutions of higher learning, and the obligation to respond to the criminal justice system’s need for methodology development and knowledge development requires a close and trusting collaboration.

Brå has been in existence since 1974 and is lead by its Director General, Erik Wennerström.

Source: Brå (The Swedish National Council for Crime Prevention)

Official website: bra.se