Organised crime, especially the criminal economy, is a significant factor in many types of illegal activity. It poses a serious threat to Sweden and affects access to public and private services, as well as having a greater impact on the most vulnerable people in society. Currently, Sweden does not have sufficient capacity to identify, manage and reduce the vulnerabilities that are exploited by organised crime. To mount an effective response, we must increase our level of specialised knowledge and improve cooperation between societal stakeholders.

Sweden Against Organised Crime (SMOB – Sverige mot organiserad brottslighet) is being conducted to meet these challenges. It is a partnership that aims to strengthen work against organised crime through education, research, innovation and cross-sector collaboration. SMOB is a cooperation between Södertörn University and the following public authorities: Arbetsförmedlingen, Swedish Customs, the Economic Crime Authority, Enforcement Authority, Migration Agency, Police Authority, Social Insurance Agency and the Tax Agency, as well as the Stockholm Chamber of Commerce, the Confederation of Swedish Enterprise, the Swedish Trade Union Confederation and the Swedish Confederation of Professional Employees.

SMOB is funded by the European Social Fund (ESF) and co-funded by the public authorities and organisations in the partnership.

The aim of SMOB is to create a national knowledge hub that collects expertise and resources from different sectors, building a platform for collaboration, research, education and innovation that relates to organised crime. By integrating research with practice and ensuring cross-profession collaborations, SMOB aims to develop and disseminate new methods and evidence-based tools that will be effective in the fight against organised crime. SMOB will also provide a forum for feedback and support for community stakeholders on the implementation of appropriate methods.

SMOB’s activities span four interlinked areas:

• Skills development: The project focuses on educating and empowering professionals in the public and private sectors, to better investigate and combat organised and economic crime. This includes joint training efforts to ensure that all relevant actors have the necessary knowledge and tools.
• Improved cooperation: SMOB strives to create stronger cooperation between public authorities, business, labour market stakeholders and academia. By establishing a national strategic forum for cross-sectoral collaboration, the ‘community council’, the project aims to mobilise more people in the fight against organised crime.
• Improved capacity for analysis: One important element of SMOB is improving the analytical capacity of public authorities and other stakeholders, allowing the processing of large data volumes and complex analyses of organised crime and the criminal economy.
• Innovation: SMOB’s innovation lab will develop the capacity to manage and effectively resolve vulnerabilities that demand action from stakeholders at different societal levels, to promote joint action against organised and economic crime. The aim is to create synergies that go beyond what each organisation can achieve on its own.

SMOB differs from previous efforts against organised crime due to its function as a knowledge hub, in which new and vital elements are brought together and integrated. There is a clear need for cross-sectoral collaboration, integrated applied research, and joint skills provision and development in the fight against organised crime. SMOB addresses these gaps by creating a platform that enables closer and more effective cross-sector cooperation, making it a unique and innovative endeavour.

Contact:

Amir Rostami, project manager and professor of criminology, smob@sh.se