The Uppsala municipality has launched a new program aimed at helping 13-year-olds involved in criminal activities. According to SR Ekot, the program is designed to provide support and protection for minors living in dangerous environments.
The initiative comes in response to a concerning trend of younger individuals becoming involved in criminal behavior. Municipal board chairman Erik Pelling (S) stated, “We have had a dropout activity since two years ago from 18 years and above. But now crime has decreased in age and we see that this need also exists for younger young people.”
The program will offer minors the opportunity to move to a family in protected accommodation in a different location, providing them with a safe environment to escape the threats they may be facing in their current surroundings.
The decision to extend the dropout program to younger individuals reflects the municipality’s commitment to addressing the evolving challenges faced by vulnerable youth. By offering targeted support to those at risk, Uppsala is taking proactive steps to intervene in the lives of minors before they become further entrenched in criminal activities.
The impact of the program remains to be seen, but it represents a promising initiative in the effort to provide vital assistance and protection to at-risk youth in Uppsala.