Despite harsh criticism from the Legal Affairs Council, the government and the SD are choosing to move forward with the proposal for double punishment for gang criminals. This was announced by Minister of Justice Gunnar Strömmer (M) at a press conference on Thursday.
The Tidö parties have long looked to Denmark - and watched with wide eyes how our neighboring country has tackled gang crime. Before the 2022 election, there was often talk of "Danish punishment for Swedish crimes".
In Denmark, it has long been possible to impose double sentences for gang crime.
“Almost tragicomic”
However, according to Danish criminologist David Sausdal, associate professor of sociology at Lund University, it is not an effective way to reduce crime.
"The length of the sentence is not decisive," he says.
"It's almost tragicomic. Basically all the research says the same thing. The Danish Ministry of Justice's research unit has published several reports in which they have compiled research showing that the Danish extended sentences are not effective. They may even be counterproductive and make the situation worse."
Sausdal instead believes that preventive measures and more resources for the police would be a better way to go.
"If the focus is to reduce crime, I don't understand why the Swedes are so in love with the Danish model."
Playing on emotions
The double-penalty measures - for example, a gang criminal caught with a live weapon could face a prison sentence of eight years, compared to today's four - play heavily on emotions and notions of justice, says David Sausdal.
"For me it's hard to understand. There is solid evidence of what works and what doesn't work to reduce crime. Yet they insist on using Swedish tax money for something that is not effective. Would they do that if it were about cancer?" he says.
"Would you say, 'You know, we know this doesn't work, but it feels good'? No, you wouldn't say that."
The increased penalties will come into effect on August 1.
