Sweden will lower its age of criminal responsibility below 15, Prime Minister Ulf Kristersson announced on Tuesday, as the country confronts a disturbing rise in organised crime groups exploiting children as foot soldiers and killers.
Delivering his annual policy address to parliament, Kristersson warned that criminal networks are “ruthlessly exploiting” minors, often luring them through social media to carry out shootings and bomb attacks.
“Both to protect these children and their potential victims, the government is taking strong action against this type of cynical exploitation,” he said.
Official data illustrates the scale of the crisis: in the first half of 2024, 93 children under 15 were suspected of involvement in murder, attempted murder, or complicity in such crimes — more than three times the figure recorded in the same period last year.
A government-commissioned inquiry earlier this year recommended lowering the age of criminal responsibility to 14 in cases of serious offences. While Kristersson did not confirm the exact threshold, he pledged tighter laws to address the growing threat.
For over a decade, Sweden has grappled with gang violence — marked by gun battles and bombings — that has shaken public trust in national security.
Although authorities report that overall shootings and murders declined in 2024 and are projected to fall further, the increasing involvement of children in violent crime has become a pressing concern.
The reform forms part of a broader government strategy to dismantle organised crime networks, shield vulnerable youths from recruitment, and restore public safety.
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