Gang crime continues to plague Sweden, with recurring bombings, shootings and contract killings spreading fear in society, without those in power managing to get a grip on crime.
Criminal gangs often use minors to carry out serious crimes. For this reason, the Tidö parties (the center-right coalition government) want to give police the authority to wiretap children under the age of 15 – even in cases where there is no specific suspicion of a crime.
During a press conference the government stated that the social trend is bleak, that “serious crime is penetrating lower and lower down the age scale” and that children are increasingly “playing central roles in the commission of serious crimes“.
Currently, police are not allowed to use “secret coercive measures” against children under the age of 15 – which allegedly hinders police work when investigating murders and bombings.
At a press conference on Wednesday, representatives of the Tidö parties confirmed that they want to change the legislation so that children can also be wiretapped – partly when they are being investigated for crimes – but also for “preventive purposes” – i.e. without any actual suspicion of crime.
– These are far-reaching proposals. But it is justified by the development of society, said Minister for Justice Gunnar Strömmer (M), and continued:
– It is about preventing crime, but also about reaching those who are behind and controlling via children’s cell phones.
Dismisses own investigator’s limitations
The government’s own legal investigator had recommended that only the Swedish Security Service (Säpo) be allowed to use wiretapping without suspicion of a crime. However, the government disagrees, arguing that it is “absolutely necessary” for regular police to also be allowed to wiretap children if they can be linked to serious organized crime.
The government maintains that fighting gang crime is more important than protecting the integrity of minors. Strömmer stated that “there are very significant risks in allowing the current reality to continue as it is”.
The change in the law is proposed to come into force this fall for at least five years, after which it will be evaluated.
Although most people seem to agree that organized crime needs to be fought, many are also opposed to the fact that the moderate-led government repeatedly chooses to focus so much on increased wiretapping and surveillance. Critics also point out that there is a real risk that the surveillance apparatus will be abused in the future or used very arbitrarily and without legal certainty.