In recent times, five Swedish citizens, including three minors, have been arrested for attempted murder and explosions in Denmark.
The trend is not new – since April, there have been 25 incidents involving "Swedish child soldiers", according to the country's Justice Minister Peter Hummelgaard, who also stated that some have taken on assignments for payment.
Want to spread information
After a crisis meeting at the top level, Fogde says they want to spread information about Denmark's tough penalties for young gang criminals.
It's actually the case that the clearance rate is high and the penalty is harsh. That message should also be conveyed to the other side of the Sound. I'm not sure that these young perpetrators understand what they've gotten themselves into.
At the same time, Fodge emphasizes that they want to put pressure on the networks behind the violent crimes.
Those who have carried out this are not the ones behind the criminality. They are sitting abroad, behind digital services and encrypted devices. So it's also about technology and digital tools.
Wishes for facial recognition
During the press conference, Hummelgaard stated that the police have specifically requested facial recognition as a tool in the fight against gang crime.
The Danish government will now present a proposal as soon as possible.
I have respect for the fact that other parties may be opposed to it on principle, but if it can lead to a conviction, it weighs heavier for me, he says and continues:
The hired child soldiers do not have long criminal records. The police do not recognize them directly. Then you could run the face through a digital tool.
"Close and good cooperation"
In a comment to TT, Sweden's Justice Minister Gunnar Strömmer writes that Sweden and Denmark have close and good cooperation and that he has ongoing contact with Hummelgaard.
”We have a common interest in stopping the cynical and dangerous recruitment of Swedish children and young people, especially in a situation where both Danish and Swedish criminal networks are engaging in this.”
But the Social Democrats' Ardalan Shekarabi, vice chairman of the Justice Committee, believes that the government is not doing enough. He confirms that Gunnar Strömmer has been called to the Justice Committee for questioning.
We are in a crisis situation and against that background, we have requested that he come to the committee to account for what the government intends to do to stop the recruitment of children and young people to gangs, he says.
