Background

Much of the new knowledge in situational crime prevention remains limited to universities and research institutes. Aiming at bridging the gap between academia and practice, Safeplaces is an interdisciplinary network that links local needs for knowledge in situational crime prevention to a national and international network of experts, practitioners and institutions. By initiating discussion and debates through events such as conferences, courses, webinars and lectures, the network aims at providing an arena for knowledge sharing on topics of relevance to those engaged in working towards the 2030’s Sustainable Development Goals. The network is based at KTH Royal Institute of Technology in Stockholm, Sweden, initiated in 2010 and formally inaugurated in January 2017, under the name Safeplaces network.

Aim & objectives

The aim of the Safeplaces network is to improve the knowledge base on situational crime prevention among local actors in Sweden, which can ultimately work towards the creation of safer environments. This aim is achieved by:

  • Information and knowledge sharing -Sharing information and research findings among experts involved in local crime prevention, such as safety coordinators, police, security managers, urban planners and other practitioners.
  • Tailored education – Supply of tailored courses to improve knowledge basis in situational conditions of crime and methodological skills among KTH students and continued education for planners and practitioners.
  • Research development – Research development devoted to the topic of crime and place, situational conditions of crime and crime prevention initiatives in cooperation with national stakeholders.
  • Practice evaluation – Evaluation of what does or does not work (practices) in in situational crime prevention informed by principles gender and social equality and safety as individuals’ right.
  • National hub of knowledge and information – Providing a link between stakeholders in academia and society in general.
  • National hub with international links – Establishing and reinforcing links with international networks by providing courses abroad as well as organising national and international workshops, conferences and arenas of knowledge diffusion in Sweden.