In a new statement, Social Democrat leader Magdalena Andersson says she wants to allow law enforcement to secretly wiretap children under the age of 15 – even if they are not of legal age – on the grounds that children are increasingly being used by criminal gangs to commit serious crimes.

Decades of limitless mass immigration policies have led to the spread of organized crime across large parts of the country, and recently Swedish political parties have competed to propose strict control and surveillance measures to reverse the trend, which critics say the politicians themselves have created.

– We are in an acute and national crisis where children are being used as child soldiers by adults, said the S leader during a press conference, explaining that the proposal would mean that the legislation would have the same possibility of interception regardless of age.

– The exploitation of young people by gangs for serious acts of violence must be stopped and we therefore want to see the possibility of introducing secret coercive measures for young people under the age of 15.

In the past, there has been a desire to protect the integrity of children, she argues – but now, according to Andersson, so much crime is being committed that this argument is no longer considered particularly strong.

– It hasn’t been possible in the past and it’s about protecting children’s privacy, their integrity, but with the development we see today, it has to be weighed against the risk of them being drawn into crime and protecting their lives, she continues.

“Must be introduced”

The possibility for law enforcement agencies to monitor children under the age of 15 is already being investigated and considered by the centre-right government – but S – which has been dragging its feet on the issue, is already stating that the interception must become a reality.

– We are already saying here and now that this must be introduced, Andersson states.

The Social Democrats also want to be inspired by Denmark and introduce so-called youth crime boards.

– Without any age restrictions, you, together with your parents, will meet a judge in a youth crime board. The police should also be present, explains Andersson.