To break the grip of gang criminality on society, a completely new approach is required, says S leader Magdalena Andersson at a press conference.
She refers to the USA, where there is special legislation to combat mafia and gang crime, the so-called Rico legislation.
The S will submit a committee initiative in the Justice Committee to investigate collective punishment, a development of the system with crown witnesses and special units that work against criminal gangs within the law enforcement agencies.
Connected
The proposals for crown witnesses and collective criminal liability are connected, emphasizes Teresa Carvalho, the Social Democrats' law policy spokesperson:
By gang members bearing collective responsibility for the organization's entire criminality, there are many who have strong incentives to also reveal those higher up in the hierarchy.
Sweden already has a system with crown witnesses, which means a reduction in sentence for those who have contributed to the clarification of someone else's criminality. But the S wants it to be used more targeted, like the American model, to get at gang leaders.
Vigilance in business
The S also wants to investigate the possibility of prosecuting legal entities, as a step in combating criminality in business.
Both those driven by organized crime, but also those who in other ways through their business activities feed the criminal economy, says Teresa Carvalho.
Today, it is not associated with sufficient risk to do business with criminal actors, she believes.
The demands for vigilance and caution throughout the entire Swedish business community need to increase.
