The Swedish government is developing a major reform of the criminal justice system that would allow the detention of minors as young as 13 years old for particularly serious crimes. This was reported by official sources and law enforcement agencies.
The reform is primarily aimed at combating the growing wave of violence linked to organized criminal gangs. According to police data, criminal groups are actively recruiting teenagers, including through social media, and using them to carry out the most dangerous tasks.
“We can no longer afford a situation where children are used as expendable material in criminal wars,” government sources noted.
According to official statistics, in 2025, 52 children under the age of 15 were involved in cases of murder or attempted murder. Teenagers are increasingly being used to carry out shootings, armed attacks, bombings, drug trafficking, and other serious crimes.
Previously, Swedish law set a higher age threshold for the application of strict measures against minors. The new reform aims to close this legal loophole, which, according to authorities, allows criminal networks to exploit the youngest participants with impunity.
The bill is expected to be submitted to the Riksdag in the coming months. The reform has already sparked heated debate in society: human rights activists have expressed concern over potential violations of children’s rights, while politicians and police emphasize the need for strict measures to restore security in the country.
According to Reuters, in recent years Sweden has faced one of the most serious surges in gang violence in its modern history.