A script analysis of organized crime in the Swedish construction industry

Abstract: Background: Organized crime and the construction industry in relation to prevention and theoretical perspectives are understudied areas.  Aims and method: This study aims to contribute to the knowledge of organized and financial crime in the Swedish construction industry and map the blind spots for control mechanisms and crime prevention. The purpose is to identify the structure of opportunities for organized crime in the Swedish construction industry through crime script analysis. Results: Two generalizable scripts following a similar modus operandi emerged, the “corporate looting” script and the “invoice factory” script. The peripheral involvement of organized crime groups indicates that there is a point in distinguishing between the actors and actions.  Conclusions: Interventions should target intermediaries, earlier stages, and situations where the script enters the legal market. Further integration of macro-level analysis with crime script analysis can contribute to the formulation of effective crime prevention strategies.