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This spring, the government proposed tougher penalties for a series of crimes that enable shootings and explosions. Now the process is speeding up.
In light of the recent wave of violence in Sweden, the government wants the introduction of the new penalties to be brought forward to January next year – from April 1 according to the previous plan.
In an interview with SVT Nyheter, Minister of Justice Gunnar Strömmer (M) describes the proposal as a “very important piece of the puzzle” in the fight against gang crime.
– It must be punished more severely. We are talking about dangerous people. We have to protect society, and we do that by arresting them, prosecuting them and locking them up for twice as long, says the minister.
It is about longer sentences for serious forms of weapons offences, unauthorized handling of explosives and smuggling of weapons and explosive goods. In total, there are twelve penalty increases.
The penalty scale for serious weapons crime is increased, for example, from imprisonment for a minimum of two years to four years and a maximum of five to seven years in prison.
The government’s goal is to submit a bill to the Riksdag in November so that the proposal can be hammered out during December.
FACT Longer sentences for gun crimes
In the proposal, it is proposed that the penalty scales be increased for serious forms of weapon possession, unauthorized handling of explosives and smuggling of weapons and explosive goods.
For crimes of the normal degree, the penalty scale is increased from imprisonment for 14 days–3 years to imprisonment for 14 days–5 years.
For serious crimes, the penalty scale is increased from imprisonment for 2–5 years to imprisonment for 4–7 years.
For particularly serious crimes, the penalty scale is increased from imprisonment for 4–7 years to imprisonment for 6–10 years.
Source: Ministry of Justice
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