Sweden is to bring in harsher penalties as it struggles with a rise in violent attacks and organised crime.
The proposed law change would result in a total of 16,000 additional years of imprisonment per year for convicted criminals.
Swedish National Police Commissioner Petra Lundh reported on Thursday on the findings of a government-commissioned inquiry, suggesting increased sentencing for some 50 criminal offences. “We estimate that the reforms would lead to some 16,000 more years of imprisonment per year compared with current sentencing,” Lundh said at a news conference, reports AFP.
Sharp Rise in Sentencing Expected
The Swedish National Council for Crime Prevention (BRA) has stated that the courts issued approximately 18,700 years of imprisonment in 2024. The proposed changes would be a dramatic increase.
Justice Minister Gunnar Strömmer told a press conference it was time to update the country’s penal system, which was established largely between the 1960s and 1980s. “Swedish society has changed enormously since then,” he said. “We can no longer ignore the threat of organized crime. In the longer perspective, it has the potential to erode our open and free society.” Strömmer also noted that deadly shootings in Sweden tripled over the course of 2012 to 2022.
Gun Violence and Explosions on the Rise
According to BRA, Sweden sees about four deaths by firearms per million people each year—well above the European average of 1.6. The recent surge in both bombings and shootings is largely the result of escalating conflicts between rival criminal networks.
Commissioner Lundh called for tougher punishments for offenders convicted of a number of crimes, and for the expansion of the imposition of life sentences. She also suggested that punishments could be doubled for crimes linked to criminal gangs that were organized. Sentencing would ultimately be in the hands of judges, however, she said.
Minister Strömmer reiterated that the government would first examine the findings of the investigation before determining how it would go about adopting the suggested changes.
