EU crime-fighters discuss alcohol and crime in Finland
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Crime linked with the consumption of alcohol is estimated to have cost more than EUR 30 billion in the European Union in 2003, said Professor Michael Klein of the Catholic University of Cologne at a conference of the EU’s Crime Prevention Network on Monday in the city of Hämeenlinna in the southern Finland.
The aim of the two-day conference is to seek ways to fight crimes of violence and crimes against property. Crimes linked with the consumption of alcohol and other drugs were the main theme of this year's gathering.
A large proportion of violent crimes are committed while under the influence of alcohol. For instance, Finland’s fairly high homicide rate correlates powerfully with heavy drinking.
At the conference at the Aulanko resort, representatives of the EU countries presented crime prevention projects embarked on in their respective countries. By comparing results, the experts hope to spread information on successful ways of fighting crime.
Some of the projects competed for the EU’s crime prevention prize, which was won by the Ringsted experiment in Denmark, in which schoolchildren were taught that their contemporaries actually drink and smoke less than is generally thought. The experiment helped reduce risk behaviour, such as the use of tobacco, alcohol, and drugs, as well as actual crimes.
Young people have often been found to have an exaggerated perception of the extent to which their contemporaries smoke and drink. Changing perceptions on this - demonstrating that it is not true that "everyone does it" - appeared to have a better effect in Denmark than education campaigns or scare tactics about the dire consequences of undesirable behaviour.
The Finnish candidate for the prize was the "Night of the Streets" event in the city of Kerava north of Helsinki, aimed at preventing disturbances on the first weekend of school summer holiday.
Helsingin Sanomat
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| 28.11.2006 - TODAY |
 EU crime-fighters discuss alcohol and crime in Finland |
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