Wednesday, July 2, 2025

Polaris of Enlightenment

Sweden’s government wants to place prisoners abroad

Published 20 December 2023
– By Editorial Staff
Gunnar Strömmer is on the lookout for prison sites in the "immediate area" around Sweden.
2 minute read

There is an acute shortage of places within the Prison and Probation Service – something the Swedish government hopes to solve by renting prison places in other countries. An investigator has now been appointed to examine whether this type of placement is practically viable.

– We must work on several fronts at the same time, said minister of justice Gunnar Strömmer (M) at a press conference on Thursday.

Politicians and the Prison and Probation Service have long warned that there are not enough places to house all prisoners, and existing institutions and remand prisons are currently being expanded across the country – yet the government says this is not enough.

The governing parties and the Sweden Democrats therefore hope to be able to rent prison places in other countries and have launched an investigation to examine whether this is possible, how much it would cost and what practical and organizational problems need to be solved. It will also analyze how to organize the transports, what kind of prisoners can be placed abroad and how to ensure that they are treated in an acceptable and legal way.

Mattias Wahlstedt, permanent secretary and deputy head of department at the Police Legal Department, has been appointed as an investigator and will work on this assignment for 12 months.

Looking in the local area

According to Gunnar Strömmer, it is not currently known which countries Sweden can sign agreements with – but the focus is on the “immediate area”.

– You can think of the Nordic region and Europe, where there is experience with other comparable countries that have rented sites abroad.

The Netherlands is an example of a European country that has received prisoners from other EU countries for a fee, and is one of the options the government will look at more closely.

– Of course there are risks, but I am convinced that it is possible to take care of them in a good way. That is what the investigator will do, and we are open to what the investigator will come up with. Our point is to get to the bottom of these issues, the justice minister continues.

According to Strömmer, Sweden needs to double the number of prison places compared to today.

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Sweden faces declining birth rates – government launches inquiry into causes

Published yesterday 16:47
– By Editorial Staff
Even during periods of economic prosperity, few Swedes choose to have children. This trend continues despite Sweden's internationally recognized comprehensive social welfare system and generous parental benefits.
2 minute read

Birth rates in Sweden have reached historically low levels. During 2023, the average was 1.43 children per woman – the lowest figure ever recorded. Now the Swedish government is launching an investigation to understand why fewer people want to start families.

– The state needs to consider factors that create barriers to having children, such as housing, economy, gender equality, and work-life balance, said Swedish Social Affairs Minister Jakob Forssmed (Christian Democrats) at a press conference on Monday.

If this trend continues, each new generation will be approximately 30 percent smaller than the previous one. This poses significant consequences for the labor market and welfare system when fewer working-age individuals must support a growing elderly population.

– Having children should be a personal choice, but it affects society at large, noted Forssmed, who also identified modern dating culture as one of the culprits.

– There are indications that relationships formed through dating apps are generally more short-lived and therefore less likely to lead to family formation.

During 2023, 95,800 children were born in Sweden – a decrease of 1,600 compared to the previous year, according to Statistics Sweden. The decline is visible across all regions and social groups.

Low birth rates despite economic boom

Historically, birth rates have often followed economic cycles, but this correlation has broken down. Despite strong economic growth during the 2010s and a parental benefits system that is both generous and well-functioning by international standards, birth rates have continued to decline.

– Birth rates are decreasing despite Sweden experiencing an economic boom and having a largely well-functioning preschool system and generous parental leave, says Forssmed.

The Swedish government now wants to identify other factors that may be causing young people to refrain from having children. According to research cited by Forssmed, today one in four young women hesitates to become a parent – a sharp increase compared to ten years ago when the figure was one in ten.

One partial explanation highlighted by the Social Affairs Minister is the challenging and, for many, inaccessible Swedish housing market.

– For many, the dream of owning a house is delayed or remains unfulfilled.

Mental health and existential crises

The government also wants to examine more existential factors: how concerns about the future, mental health issues, and feelings of meaningfulness affect views on parenthood.

– We know that many young people seek psychiatric care and many report that life lacks meaning. It’s difficult to envision caring for children when it’s challenging to take care of your own well-being, Forssmed continued.

The task of leading the government investigation has been assigned to Åsa Hansson, Associate Professor of Economics. The reference group includes Anna Björklund, author of “Kvinnomanualen” (The Woman’s Manual), and Micael Dahlén, Professor of Happiness and Well-being at the Stockholm School of Economics.

Swedish government investigator sees no need for national ban on begging

Published 30 June 2025
– By Editorial Staff
Former Supreme Court Justice Krister Thelin presents the investigation report to Swedish Minister of Justice Gunnar Strömmer.
2 minute read

Begging has decreased, local bans are working, and a national ban is not necessary. This is claimed by Court of Appeal Judge Krister Thelin – even as he, commissioned by the government, still proposes criminalizing begging in Sweden.

On Monday, the investigation A National Ban on Begging (Ett nationellt förbud mot tiggeri) was submitted to Swedish Minister of Justice Gunnar Strömmer (Moderate Party). Since fall 2024, Thelin has been tasked with evaluating existing regulations and developing possible approaches for a general ban.

However, his own conclusion is clear: he sees no need for a Swedish begging ban today.

– This is partly because the extent of begging looks different than it did ten years ago. With cash being used less frequently, it’s no longer profitable for vulnerable groups who often came to Sweden in organized forms, Thelin said at a press conference on Monday.

Thelin also points out that current legislation provides municipalities with sufficient tools. Several municipalities, including Vellinge, Staffanstorp, and Katrineholm in Sweden, have already implemented local bans on begging in certain areas under the Public Order Act. According to the investigator, this system works well.

Despite this, the investigation includes two concrete legislative proposals to criminalize begging – in line with the government’s directives.

Government’s view is divided

The main proposal in the investigation is to criminalize begging through an amendment to Chapter 16 of the Swedish Criminal Code. According to the proposal, those who beg for their own or their family’s subsistence could be fined. The law change is proposed to take effect on July 1, 2026.

As an alternative, it is proposed to introduce a new provision in the Public Order Act instead. The difference between the two solutions is that the Criminal Code regulates what is legally defined as public space, while the Public Order Act applies to public places.

– The directives were so clever that they say regardless of what I think about introducing a begging ban or not, I should come up with a proposal in that direction.

The issue of a national begging ban has long been politically sensitive in Sweden. It has been a signature issue for the Sweden Democrats (SD) and was included as an election promise in the 2022 election. The Tidö Agreement, signed between SD and the government parties, stipulates that the issue should be investigated – but not that a ban should automatically be implemented.

The government parties are divided on the issue. The Moderate Party shares SD’s position and wants to see a national ban. However, the Christian Democrats are more hesitant, and the Liberal Party has clearly opposed criminalization.

Soaring weapons prices risk consuming Sweden’s NATO buildup

The new cold war

Published 30 June 2025
– By Editorial Staff
It remains unclear how much weapons and equipment Sweden's multi-billion investment in defense will actually cover in the end.
3 minute read

Sweden is building up its military like never before – but it’s far from certain that the investments will have the desired effect. Weapons manufacturers’ prices for arms and ammunition have soared, and a large part of the military build-up risks being consumed by increased costs.

– Then we won’t become more dangerous to the adversary, emphasizes Vice Admiral Ewa Skoog Haslum, Chief of Joint Operations at the Swedish Armed Forces.

According to the Swedish Armed Forces, the war in Ukraine has shown how quickly ammunition and weapon systems are consumed in modern conflicts, and Sweden’s own stockpiles are dimensioned for training and deterrence – not for prolonged combat.

– When it comes to ammunition, we may not have bought as much as we would need in actual combat. Instead, we’ve bought what we think we need for training and maintaining sufficient deterrence, Skoog Haslum tells TT news agency.

To meet the threat, stockpiles must be built up, and Swedish defense industry must be able to quickly scale up production if war breaks out.

Defense industry positive about closer collaboration

The development of new weapons is also accelerating. In Ukraine, for example, new weapon systems, such as marine drones, have been met with countermeasures within just four to six weeks. In Sweden, however, it can take years – sometimes decades – from order to delivery.

To shorten lead times, the Swedish Armed Forces wants to test unfinished products directly in exercises, in close collaboration with the defense industry.

– I believe we’ll become better as Armed Forces, but I also think the industry would develop faster, the Vice Admiral continues.

Defense industry representatives are positive, and Lena Gillström, CEO of Swedish defense company BAE Systems Bofors and chairperson of the Security and Defense Companies Association, sees great benefits in reducing the distance between users and developers.

– By maintaining close dialogue with those who use the systems, we can also see which problems need to be solved. I believe this will be crucial for achieving speed in the system, she says.

She is prepared to send company engineers to exercises to adjust gun turrets and artillery systems in the field – something that currently happens very rarely.

Swedish Parliament wants to borrow €27 billion

As more countries build up their military, the demand for both weapons and ammunition increases – and consequently, prices rise. Ewa Skoog Haslum sees a clear risk that the increased defense allocations won’t translate into actual combat power.

– Absolutely, it’s a risk, and then we won’t get more capability for the Armed Forces. Then we won’t become more dangerous to the adversary, instead we’ll have spent the money on more expensive items, she explains.

The defense budget for 2025 amounts to 143 billion SEK (€13 billion) – a ten percent increase compared to the previous year. This corresponds to 2.4 percent of GDP according to NATO’s calculation model. But to reach NATO’s new goals – 3.5 percent for military defense plus 1.5 percent for civil defense – an additional 70 billion SEK (€6.2 billion) per year is required.

The Swedish Parliament is prepared to borrow up to 300 billion SEK (€27 billion) to accelerate the military build-up and reach the goals by 2032. Of this amount, 50 billion SEK (€4.5 billion) is earmarked for civil defense.

Hundreds of gang members control Swedish crime from abroad

organized crime

Published 30 June 2025
– By Editorial Staff
A total of 124 internationally wanted criminals with connections to Swedish criminal networks have been arrested in other countries this year.
2 minute read

Hundreds of gang criminals have left Sweden – but continue to pull the strings from abroad.

According to the Swedish Police Authority, around 700 individuals have been identified, and the authority is now intensifying its international efforts to strike back against gangs trying to organize from safe distances.

– As we have developed and changed our working methods, criminals have moved to other countries. Initially, this happened to other European countries, but increasingly to countries outside Europe and the Schengen area, says Stefan Hector, Deputy National Police Commissioner of Sweden, in a press release.

So far this year, 124 internationally wanted persons with connections to Swedish crime have been arrested abroad. This represents a significant increase compared to last year, when the total number of arrests was 86.

According to Hector, it is challenging to apprehend gang leaders and other key figures in countries where legal systems and legislation differ significantly from Sweden’s. To address this, the Swedish Police has initiated cooperation with several key countries – including Turkey, the USA, Iraq, and the United Arab Emirates.

– This is difficult and demanding work, and we are working intensively, primarily to build relationships and cooperation with other countries, as we face common problems, he explains.

Beyond arrests, the police are also trying to stop the growing digital recruitment of young people into serious crime. The phenomenon, where gangs lure youth to carry out acts of violence through so-called violence-as-a-service, often resembles regular job advertisements.

The Swedish Police now leads an international task force called OTF Grimm, in collaboration with Europol and authorities from seven other countries, aimed at countering recruitment and violence-for-hire schemes spread online.

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