POLISENS BROTTSFÖREBYGGANDE INFORMATIONSKAMPANJER. En kvalitativ intervjustudie om hur äldre brottsoffer uppfattar Polisens kommunikationsinsatser gällande åldringsbrott

Abstract

This study examines the crime prevention information campaigns of the Police targeting the elderly, focusing specifically on their effectiveness and how these campaigns are perceived by the older target group. Crimes against the elderly, including fraud such as “vishing”, have significantly increased in recent years and pose a serious problem both at the individual and societal levels. Crimes against the elderly, also known as elder crimes, include fraud, theft, assault, and other types of abuse that affect people over 65 years old and individuals with disabilities. The consequences for the victims can be devastating, ranging from loss of confidence and altered self-image to feelings of fear and isolation. On a societal level, these crimes can lead to increased costs for healthcare and legal processes. To address this issue, the Police has conducted several information campaigns through various channels such as “Polisen.se”, social media, and physical information letters. Despite these efforts, the number of reported elder crimes continues to rise, raising questions about the campaigns' effectiveness and reach. In this essay, we conducted a qualitative interview study with elderly individuals who have been victims of different kinds of vishing. The aim was to explore how these individuals value and use information to protect themselves against crimes and how they perceive the Police's communication efforts. Through the interviews, we collected data on the elderly respondents' awareness of elder crimes, their experiences of being victimized, and their views on the Police's information campaigns. Our results show that awareness of elder crimes is relatively high among the elderly, but this does not always lead to concrete measures to protect themselves. Information is valued more highly when presented in a credible and concrete manner through traditional media such as TV and newspapers. Additionally, many elderly people feel that the information is more relevant and trustworthy when it specifically relates to their age group. Based on our findings, we recommend that the Police develops their information campaigns by tailoring them to be more relatable and emotionally engaging for the elderly. This can be achieved by using elements that elderly individuals can relate to, such as images of older people in information materials and stories that reflect their own experiences. In summary, this study emphasizes the importance of improving and tailoring crime prevention communication to better protect elderly citizens against elder crimes and thereby contribute to a safer society.