More and more children need support around crime. That type of call to Bris has increased by 90 percent this year, compared to last year.
– They want to get out but have difficulty finding a way, says Magnus Jägerskog, general secretary at Bris.
During the summer, Bris has had more supportive contacts with children than ever before.
That crime creeps down in age is noticeable at the organization. During this summer, Bris received 90 percent more calls about crime compared to the summer of last year.
– This year we have seen a very large increase in young people who themselves are involved in gang crime or who are affected by it in their area, says Magnus Jägerskog, secretary general at Bris.
According to Bris, many children testify that they feel bad mentally after being involved in crime.
– There are young people who feel very bad, who want to get out but find it difficult to find a way out. Young people who are threatened and put under pressure from the gang, says Magnus Jägerskog.
“Big failure”
In this group of children, according to the organization, a larger proportion testifies to an addiction problem. It is also common for children to feel worried about their family’s safety.
– It is difficult for these children to know where they can turn and get support. The possibility of being able to get in touch 24 hours a day in an anonymous way is, I think, a big reason why many people contact bris, says the general secretary.
The Secretary General is critical that it has been allowed to go this far.
– It is a conscious strategy on the part of the gangs, to involve younger and younger executors of various types of assignments. Society needs to gather strength with previous efforts to stop new recruitment. This is a major failure, and this is work that should have taken place ten years ago, says Jägerskog.
Regarding all types of calls, Bris had 10,330 supportive contacts with children during the summer, which is an increase of 28 percent compared to the same period last year.