Brottsförebyggande samverkan i småkommuner : En kontrasterande fallstudie om praktiska erfarenheter och effekter i Båstad och Hylte kommun

This study employs a qualitative approach using semi-structured respondent interviews to investigate the implementation of crime prevention collaboration and its perceived effects in the small Swedish municipalities of Båstad and Hylte. These municipalities' collaborative work and perceived effects will be contrasted, in order to find out whether collaboration is an effective strategy for crime prevention work in small municipalities. Through interviews with actors in the crime prevention collaboration, the study contributes to a deeper understanding of the experiences and perceived effects of the crime prevention collaboration in small Swedish municipalities. Using the theoretical framework of network governance, the analysis first highlights factors that have promoted effective collaboration and then factors that have hindered collaboration by identifying organizational, conceptual and identity-related dilemmas within the small municipalities. Based on the analysis of the interview material, it can be concluded that crime prevention collaboration in small municipalities is characterized by high trust, flexibility, good relations and short decision making. Although there was a lack of interaction in Hylte and clashes of perspective in Båstad, all actors agreed in their perceived effects, that collaboration was positive for crime prevention.