South Africa is known for being a country with high crime rates. Many factors contribute to this notion. Cape Town is ranked 14th on the list of the most violent cities in the world. Furthermore, gang violence in the Western Cape is believed to be the highest in South Africa, with the South African Police Service (SAPS) considering 25 of the Western Cape's 151 police stations as gang related police stations. It is apparent that South Africa as a developing country falls short in addressing the social ills in our communities, such as continued high unemployment rates, gangsterism, and the formation of illegal partnerships due to money greed and boredom (lack of motivational support in the form of activities provided, especially among the youth). The objective of the study was to describe and analyse the police service delivery challenges experienced by Western Cape Station Commanders in the context of the crime statistics retrieved from published SAPS data. This research explored police service delivery challenges through the lens of Station Commanders from the 151 police stations in the Western Cape. Thus, the research question was formulated as follows: "What are the service delivery challenges experienced by Station Commanders at police stations in the Western Cape?" The target population comprised all Station Commanders in the Western Cape. For the data collection, a survey strategy was adopted. The data collection tool was a telephonic interview conducted in a systematic manner. The data of the profiling survey of all Station Commanders in the Western Cape Province conducted by the Department of Community Safety, were utilised to analyse the police service delivery challenges they face. The Know Your Station Commander Tool (KYSCT) is a survey tool developed with 'profiling questions' of the Station Commanders at every police station in the Western Cape. In general, limitations prohibiting police service delivery do exist from time to time, but when the lack of service delivery is experienced over long periods, it points to deep-rooted issues that need intervention, not merely observation. This study revealed that the top ten (10) service delivery challenges experienced by the Station Commanders in the Western Cape are: 1) Shortage of human resources; 2) Insufficient physical and aging resources; 3) Extended unproductive meetings; 4) SAPS 2 building and office infrastructure challenges; 5) Lack of involvement of all government departments; 6) Low morale of members; 7) Administrative-intense tasks to maintain a paper-trail; 8) Community police relations; 9) Population growth and development (police to population ratio unbalanced); and 10) Absenteeism.

This qualitative study examines the prevalence of violent extremist groups and criminal gangs in a county in Sweden, and what support is available for people in the county who want to leave these groups. The participants consist of eight people who in their profession can meet people who want to leave criminal gangs or violent extremists. The participants work in six different professions and in four different municipalities. Through semi-structured interviews data were collected which were analyzed based on Thematic Analysis. The theoretical frame of reference for this study is Hirschi's theory of social bond. The results show that in the studied county there is some occurrence of violent extremism, but especially of criminal gangs. From what emerges, there is a lack of insight and awareness of this among different professional groups. Support for people who want to leave criminal gangs or violent extremism is very limited, there are no Exit programs and there are no routines and contact routes between the actors involved that may be relevant for these people. Protection may be available, but other support is lacking. The conclusion of this study is that increased knowledge, awareness and support and treatment interventions in this area are central to counteracting the increase, in particular, gang crime. The results of the study can contribute to the crime prevention work in the county by highlighting the existence of this problem and the need for support for this target group. / <p>2022-01-31</p>

No description available.

Sweden has faced many societal challenges, including gang criminality, which has raised much concern among the public and politicians. After the elections in October 2022, Moderaterna, Sverigedemokraterna, Kristdemokraterna, and Liberalerna presented an agreement. ‘Tidöavtalet’ consists of 7 collaborative projects to solve the biggest societal problems in Sweden. It introduced several reforms to the Swedish society, which led human- and children's rights organisations to react in concern; for instance, Amnesty International indicated that the agreement showed a will to separate and stigmatize certain groups of people and make non-citizens that reside in Sweden suspicious (Amnesty International, 2022). This critical idea analysis aims to investigate ideas and ideologies expressed in the agreement and to what extent they reproduce and/or legitimize discrimination in Sweden. The analysis uses Young's "five faces of oppression" and the concept of justice. The theory provides an understanding of how disabling constraints of domination and oppression lead to different forms of injustice that violate people's inherent human rights and freedoms. The analysis of ‘Tidöavtalet’ discovered certain prevalent ideas in the agreement and shows that several reforms attempt to solve specific societal problems in Sweden in ways that contradict the state's studies, lack a child’s rights perspective and risk reproducing and legitimizing different faces of oppression.

In this essay, the aim has been to investigate how the possibilities of leaving gang criminality are portrayed in the news media. It is of criminological interest to examine the extent to which news articles address the limitations and opportunities for individuals involved in gang criminality, as this could have long-term implications for criminal policy and crime prevention efforts. Currently, there is no previous research specifically focusing on the news media's portrayal of the possibilities of leavinggang criminality, hence this essay contributes additional insights. The theories utilized in the essay include labeling theory and social bond theory. A qualitative content analysis method was employed to study 103 Swedish news articles published between October 2022 and November 2023. The material was processed using a coding scheme with themes and categories. The analysis revealed that defection programs are the primary means for gang criminals to exit criminal networks. It highlighted the challenges faced by defectors with high threat levels and emphasized the significance of community and social relationships in successfully completing the defection process. The analysis identified significant shortcomings within authorities and defection programs responsible for the process. Overall, the results depict defection programs as deficient, and the process is portrayed as uncertain, all while lethal violence continues to rise. This may contribute to the public's perception that the preventive efforts of defection programs are not effective enough to handle the situation, potentially leading to a tougher political stance on combating gang criminality. It may also signal to gang members that their chances of leaving gang criminality are slim and that authorities are not reliable

No description available.

While some societies face problems of crime and gang violence and are looking into different solutions, very little research exists on what community and architectural design and building can contribute to the reconstruction of the social fabric. This text explores how various elements and factors of architecture can be applied to reduce crime and gang violence activity in a city. By studying several manifestos and classic writings, this study will inquire the moral factor within architecture, the use of local materials and vernacular techniques, the definition of an architectural program that heals and the use of the members of the community hands for the construction of a building, the feel belonging and the ownership of a piece of architecture. La Libertad, El Salvador has been used as the place to put this into practice, being in the top most violent cities in the nation. The initiative of the architect to use the cities resources, such as bamboo as material to boost the economy through the architecture is explored to measure the impact in numbers by reducing rates of crime and gang activity in the city. / Master of Architecture / El Puerto de La Libertad in El Salvador is one of the best destinations in Central America for surfing with its great swells of waves and beautiful beaches. But there is a consistent tone within the visitors and residents’ comments about the city: they don’t feel as safe as they want to. The issue of insecurity and gang violence steadily increased after the Civil War in El Salvador ended in 1992. So, there have been different nation and city plans to mitigate the problem since then, but none has really aimed to inclusivity, most of them have been focused on fighting it with violence. My thesis seeks answers within architecture to help alleviate gang violence in the city of Puerto, through the design and development of a city master plan that connects different facilities centered in the farming, harvesting and use of bamboo for construction, furniture making and crafting. This will allow a boost in the town’s economy and the reconstruction of the social fabric. Finally joining the beauty of the blue of the ocean and the sky, with local materials and the hands of the members of the community for the design — and potentially building— of the Surfing Youth Center.

Tidigare forskning har visat att media har stor påverkan på hur samhället ser på kriminalitet och gäng. Gängkriminalitet är ett aktuellt och stort ämne i svensk media i dagsläget på grund av våldet och skjutningarna som gängkriminaliteten associeras med idag, som får storuppmärksamhet i media. Syftet med denna uppsats är att undersöka hur kriminella gäng och individer med koppling till kriminella gäng konstrueras och positioneras i den nyhetsmediala samhällsdebatten ur ett intersektionellt perspektiv samt utifrån den kritiska diskursanalysen. Detta genomförs genom att kritiskt granska innehållet i artiklar publicerade i Aftonbladet och Svenska Dagbladet. Resultatet visar bland annat på att svensk media konstruerar gäng som hänsynslösa och våldsamma. Miljön som gängen rör sig inom beskrivs som en gangstermiljö som är fylld med narkotika och vapen. Män är det mest framträdande könet när media skriver om gängmedlemmar, och segregation, klasskillnader och svag integration är faktorer som anses påverka till gängmedlemskap. Uppsatsen visar på hur svensk nyhetsmedia skildrar och framställer gängkriminella, och på hur detta bidrar till att konstruera och reproducera identiteter för gängkriminella. Studien bidrar med att synliggöra diskurserna om gängkriminella samt hur detta skapas och stärks av svensk nyhetsmedia. / Gang crime is a current and major topic in the Swedish media at the moment due to the violence and shootings that gang crime is associated with today, and it receives a lot of attention in the media. The purpose of this study is to examine how criminal gangs and gang members are constructed and positioned in the news media from an intersectional perspective and based on the critical discourse analysis. This is done by critically reviewing the content of articles published in Aftonbladet and Svenska Dagbladet during the period January 2019 to April 2023. The results show, among other things, that the Swedish media constructs gangs as ruthless and violent. The environment the gangs operate in is described as a gangster environment filled with drugs and weapons. Men are the most prominent gender when the media writes about gang members. Segregation, class differences and weak integration are factors considered to influence gang membership. The essay shows how the Swedish news media portrays gangs and gang members, and how this contributes to construct and reproducing identities for gang criminals. / <p>2023-01-01</p>

In recent years, lethal gang-related gun violence has increased in Sweden. The aim of this study is to investigate how young adults perceive and manage risks in society. Additionally, the study aims to investigate the media's influence on young adults' awareness of risks, with focus on the increased deadly gang-related gun violence. Since gang-shootings are a relatively new risk in Sweden, there is a lack of previous research on the subject and it is therefore relevant to research further, from a risk sociology perspective. Previous research therefore contains studies that investigate other social contexts than young adults in Sweden. The study's theoretical frame of reference is based on Gidden's (1996) theory of the consequences of modernity, Beck's (2000) theory of the risk society, Douglas' (2002) "subjective immunity" and Kaspersons et al. (1988) theory about social amplification of risk. This study uses qualitative interviews to investigate unique and in-depth stories from a limited number of individuals. The result shows that individuals do not seem to be afraid of being exposed to the risk themselves but are concerned that others may be exposed to it. The results display that expert knowledge from politicians is needed, however, young adults lack full confidence in politicians. The individuals in this study are overwhelmed by the information that the media spreads about the risk. Furthermore, the individuals perceive the risks as less dangerous than they appear in the media. Young adults also felt that gang-related gun violence affected them more if they were geographically close to the events. / Under de senaste åren har det dödliga gängkriminella skjutvapenvåldet ökat i Sverige. Syftet med studien är att undersöka hur unga vuxna uppfattar och hanterar risker i samhället. Syftet är även att undersöka hur media påverkar unga vuxnas medvetenhet om risker. Detta görs med fokus på ökningen av det dödliga gängkriminella skjutvapenvåldet. Eftersom gängkriminella skjutningar är en relativt ny risk i Sverige saknas det tidigare forskning om ämnet och är därför relevant att undersöka vidare utifrån ett risksociologiskt perspektiv. Tidigare forskning har därför byggts upp utifrån studier som undersöker andra sociala kontexter än unga vuxna i Sverige. Studiens teoretiska referensram utgår från Giddens (1996) teori om modernitetens följder, Becks (2000) teori om risksamhället, Douglas (2002) begrepp “subjektiv immunitet” och Kaspersons et al. (1988) teori om social förstärkning av risker. Denna studie använder kvalitativa intervjuer för att undersöka unika och djupgående berättelser från ett mindre antal individer. Resultatet visar att individer inte verkar vara rädda för att själva bli utsatta för risken, men känner en oro över att andra kan utsättas för den. Resultatet visar på att expertkunskaper från politiker behövs, men att unga vuxna saknar fullt förtroende för politiker. Individerna i denna studie känner sig överväldigade av informationen som media sprider gällande risken. Detta verkar leda till en viss avtrubbning och får individerna att uppfatta risken som mindre än den framstår i media. På liknande sätt hanterar individer detta, genom att skapa distans till situationen. De unga vuxna upplevde även att gängskjutningar påverkade dem mer vid geografisk närhet till händelser.

Thesis (M Social Work)--Stellenbosch University, 2012. / ENGLISH ABSTRACT: The Western Cape is notorious for its high prevalence of gangs and resulting gang violence. This is confirmed in the multitude of frequent reports of homicides attributed to gangs. This area of South Africa further has elevated substance abuse statistics. Literature clearly states that gangs and drugs are inextricably linked. The nature of the interaction is however unclear, although the effects of the interaction is significantly apparent as the consequences of gang activities is often felt by innocent bystanders. It is concerning that gangsterism and drug usage is normalised and ceases to be viewed as deviant in some communities. The consequences of the interaction between gangs and drugs has ramifications for community safety and further places much strain on the health, social welfare, as well as defence sectors. Effective interventions need to be informed by insight into the interaction between gangs and drugs. The best source of reliable information in this regard would be gang members. A dearth of research with regards to the gang members‟ perspective on the connection between gangs and drugs thus motivated the study. The study was conducted with male gang members within the setting of a substance treatment centre, where drug usage is normalised. An empirical study with a combination of a qualitative and quantitative approach was used, where a semi structured questionnaire was administered with individual participants as well as a focus group. The study illustrated that gangs attract members through their ability to meet the individuals‟ needs. These needs are linked to those indentified within motivational theory. Gangs met physiological needs through access to drugs, safety needs through providing protection, and self esteem needs through the provision of money and status. Significantly, gangs were identified as meeting individuals‟ belonging needs. Commonality was established in risk factors for involvement in a gang and as well as in the usage of substances. The study showed unstable home environments with absent fathers and multiple stressors such as exposure to high levels of violence and abuse. Disconnectedness within families was further highlighted. The participants were exposed to elevated levels of substance misuse within their families as well as elevated levels of familial involvement in the sale of drugs. Familial involvement in gangs was also high within participants. The findings of the study indicate that drugs are enmeshed within gang activities. Drug usage occurs before and after going out and committing crimes. Drugs were used to heighten gang members‟ fortitude, diminishing inhibitions. Participants spoke about being incapable of undertaking violent acts, without first using drugs. Gang members used drugs to quieten the conscience and in self medicating after completing a task, in order to cope with flashbacks and intrusive thoughts and images. Gang norms with regards to the sanctioning of drugs is a complex issue. The study demonstrated that gangs make a distinction between drugs, for example heroin usage is not encouraged by all gangs due to the associated tolerance and severe withdrawal symptoms. Gangs tread a thin line between condoning and discouraging drug usage. Supporting drug usage may benefit the gang, as it encourages and motivates gang activities. Gang members who become dependent on drugs are however a risk for the gang, as they become unreliable and disloyal, as their absolute devotion to the gang is challenged by their physiological needs. Gang members however perceive the gangs‟ prohibition of certain drugs, as motivated by a concern for their wellbeing rather than self interest. The temporal order of drug usage and gang membership illustrated that drug usage preceded involvement in a gang. Drug usage however significantly increased and progressed after inclusion in a gang. Recommendations emphasised a need to acknowledge the link between drugs and gangs. Insight provided by gang members is needed in order to inform effective interventions. Within the substance dependence field, the gang member presents with unique treatment needs, which must be understood in order to gain optimum results. Ill-informed, generic treatment is ineffective, irresponsible and costly for service providers, communities affected by gangsterism, and those gang members with some willingness to change. / AFRIKAANSE OPSOMMING: Die Wes-Kaap is berug vir dié provinsie se hoë voorkoms van bendes en gepaardgaande bendegeweld. Dít word bevestig deur die menigte gereelde berigte van moord waarby bendes betrek word. Hierdie gebied van Suid-Afrika toon boonop verhoogde middelmisbruik-statistieke. Literatuur stel dit onomwonde dat bendes en dwelmmiddels op onlosmaaklike wyse verbind is. Die aard van hierdie wisselwerking is onduidelik, hoewel die uitwerking daarvan onmiskenbaar is: Veral onskuldige omstanders word dikwels deur die gevolge van bendebedrywighede geraak. Dit is kommerwekkend dat bendes en dwelmmisbruik oënskynlik genormaliseer en in sommige gemeenskappe nie meer as afwykend bestempel word nie. Die wisselwerking tussen bendes en dwelms hou ernstige gevolge in vir gemeenskapsveiligheid, en plaas daarbenewens heelwat druk op die gesondheid-, maatskaplikewelsyn- sowel as verdedigingsektor. Doeltreffende intervensies moet gerig word deur insig in die wisselwerking tussen bendes en dwelms. Die beste bron van betroubare inligting in hierdie verband is natuurlik bendelede self. Tog is daar ‟n gebrek aan navorsing oor bendelede se eie beskouings van die verband tussen bendes en dwelms, en dít het dus as beweegrede vir hierdie studie gedien. Die studie is onder manlike bendelede in ‟n behandelingsentrum vir middelmisbruik onderneem, waar dwelmgebruik genormaliseer word. ‟n Empiriese studie met ‟n kombinasie van ‟n kwalitatiewe en kwantitatiewe benadering is gebruik, en ‟n semigestruktureerde vraelys is onder individuele deelnemers sowel as ‟n fokusgroep afgeneem. Die studie toon dat bendes lede werf deur hul vermoë om in die individu se behoeftes te voorsien. Hierdie behoeftes stem ooreen met die behoeftes wat in motiveringsteorie uitgewys word. Bendes voorsien in sielkundige behoeftes deur toegang tot dwelms te bied; hulle voorsien in veiligheidsbehoeftes deur beskerming te verleen, en hulle voorsien in selfbeeldbehoeftes deur geld en status beskikbaar te stel. In die besonder is bevind dat bendes in individue se behoefte voorsien om iewers tuis te hoort. Daar is ‟n gemeenskaplikheid uitgewys in die risikofaktore vir bendebetrokkenheid en vir middelmisbruik. Die studie lewer bewys van onstabiele huislike omgewings met afwesige vaderfigure en veelvuldige stressors, soos blootstelling aan hoë vlakke van geweld en misbruik. ‟n Gebrek aan familiebande kom voorts aan die lig. Die deelnemers is in hulle families aan verhoogde vlakke van middelmisbruik sowel as verhoogde vlakke van betrokkenheid by dwelmhandel blootgestel. Familiebetrokkenheid by bendebedrywighede blyk ook algemeen te wees onder deelnemers. Die bevindinge van die studie toon dat dwelms en bendebedrywighede ineengevleg is. Dwelmgebruik vind plaas voor sowel as nadat misdaad in bendeverband gepleeg word. Dwelms word gebruik om bendelede moed te gee en hul inhibisies te laat verdwyn. Deelnemers noem dat hulle nie geweld kan pleeg sonder om eers dwelms te gebruik nie. Bendelede gebruik dwelms om hul gewete te sus en hulself ná die voltooiing van ‟n taak te behandel om terugflitse en aanhoudende gedagtes aan die gebeure te kan hanteer. Bendenorme met betrekking tot die goedkeuring van dwelms is ‟n komplekse saak. Die studie toon dat bendes tussen verskillende soorte dwelms onderskei: Alle bendes moedig byvoorbeeld nie heroïengebruik aan nie weens die verwante toleransie en ernstige onttrekkingsimptome. Vir bendes is daar ‟n baie fyn lyn tussen die kondonering en ontmoediging van dwelmmisbruik. Die ondersteuning van dwelmgebruik kan tot voordeel van die bende wees, want dit dien as aansporing en motivering vir bendebedrywighede. Tog hou dwelmafhanklike lede ook ‟n gevaar vir die bende in, aangesien hulle onbetroubaar en ontrou raak wanneer hulle absolute toewyding aan die bende teen hul fisiologiese behoeftes te staan kom. Bendelede beskou egter die bende se verbod op sekere dwelms as ‟n teken van hul besorgdheid oor hulle lede se welstand eerder as selfbelang. Die tydsorde van dwelmgebruik en bendelidmaatskap toon dat dwelmgebruik bendebetrokkenheid voorafgaan. Dwelmgebruik het egter beduidend toegeneem en verhewig ná insluiting by ‟n bende. Aanbevelings beklemtoon die behoefte om die koppeling tussen bendes en dwelms te erken. Insigte wat van bendelede bekom word, is nodig ten einde doeltreffende intervensies te rig. Op die gebied van middelafhanklikheid het die bendelid unieke behandelingsbehoeftes wat verstaan moet word ten einde optimale resultate te behaal. Generiese behandeling sonder die nodige agtergrondinligting is ondoeltreffend, onverantwoordelik en duur vir diensverskaffers, gemeenskappe wat deur bendebedrywighede geraak word, sowel as daardie bendelede wat wél bereid is om te verander.