Sweden is pressing ahead with a controversial proposal to lower the age of criminal responsibility from 15 to 13 in cases involving the most serious crimes, as the country struggles with a sharp rise in gang violence and the increasing recruitment of children by organised criminal networks. The move comes amid growing alarm within the government over what it describes as the systematic exploitation of minors who are used to commit violent offences while largely avoiding severe legal consequences.
Justice Minister Gunnar Strömmer said the country was facing an “emergency situation”, arguing that curbing the use of children in criminal gangs had become one of the government’s most urgent priorities. He maintained that the proposal was not intended to introduce a general reduction in the age of criminal responsibility but would be applied only in exceptional circumstances involving grave offences. These include murder, attempted murder, aggravated bombings, serious weapons-related crimes and aggravated rape. In some cases, children as young as 13 could face prison sentences if the legislation is approved.
If passed by parliament, the new law could come into effect as early as this summer. The proposal forms part of the centre-right government’s broader crackdown on organised crime since it took office in 2022, pledging tougher measures to counter escalating violence linked to criminal gangs.
Official data underscores the scale of the problem. Figures from the Swedish National Council for Crime Prevention show that the number of registered offences involving suspects under the age of 15 has doubled over the past decade. Prime Minister Ulf Kristersson has previously warned that criminal networks are “ruthlessly exploiting” children to carry out serious crimes, often because they fall below the current age threshold for criminal prosecution. He has said that the government’s approach is aimed at protecting both vulnerable children and potential victims.
The current proposal goes further than recommendations made earlier by a government-appointed inquiry, which had suggested lowering the age of criminal responsibility to 14 for serious crimes. The government later opted to push the threshold down to 13 and circulated the draft bill to 126 authorities and organisations for feedback.
That consultation process has triggered widespread criticism. Several key institutions, including the police, prosecutors and the prison and probation service, have raised concerns about unintended consequences. In November, the national police authority warned that the change could lead to “significantly younger children” becoming involved in gangs, rather than deterring recruitment. Others have questioned whether Sweden’s prison system is equipped to handle such young offenders, cautioning that detaining children could breach international children’s rights standards.
The prison and probation service has also argued that young offenders should be supported through care-based interventions rather than punishment, warning that incarceration could have lasting negative effects. Local authority representatives have echoed these concerns, with Fredrik Hjulström, who is reviewing the proposal, criticising the bill for lacking factual evidence and accusing the government of using the issue for political gain ahead of Sweden’s general election in September.
Legal experts have also expressed scepticism. Lawyer Johan Eriksson said that while urgent action is needed to prevent children from being drawn into gang activity, lowering the age of criminal responsibility could prove counterproductive and potentially strengthen the incentives for criminal networks to recruit even younger children.
Justice Minister Strömmer has acknowledged the criticism but said the worsening security situation has made decisive action unavoidable. The bill will now be submitted to Sweden’s Council on Legislation, which will examine the proposal before it is formally presented to parliament for debate and a final vote.
