Several of the anti-gang laws introduced by the government during the current term are time-limited and will expire during the next term unless they are extended. This includes the Preventive Coercive Measures Act, which expires in 2028.
The law gives police the ability to stop planned shootings and explosions.
In a new election promise, the Moderates promise to extend the reform by another five years, until 2033.
At the same time, Strömmer warns that if the opposition parties are allowed to form a government after the election, they may disagree about extending the law.
"I see a risk of a major backlash," he says.
Reserved
It was in 2023 that police were given expanded opportunities to use covert coercive measures, such as wiretapping, for preventive purposes. Strömmer calls the law a game-changer and points out that it has contributed to preventing acts of violence and arresting gang leaders. However, it is sensitive from a privacy perspective.
When the Riksdag was to make a decision on the law, V, the Left Party, had reservations and wanted to see clearer limitations on how police would handle excess information from, for example, wiretapping.
The Centre, the Liberals and the People's Party also want the law to be evaluated after two years, instead of the five the government proposed.
"Will they change their position, or will they persist in their opposition to these tools? In that case, police will risk losing them during the next term of office," says Strömmer.
M also warns that proposals regarding constitutional amendments, which need to be voted on a second time after the election, could be stopped if the opposition wins the election.
It is about criminalising participation in gangs, which the Left Party opposed, and revoking citizenship for gang criminals, which both the Left Party and the Centre were against.
"There are good reasons to feel great concern about a possible left-wing victory this autumn in the area of legal policy," says Strömmer.
S and C strike back
The Social Democrats' Teresa Carvalho says in a written comment that S "of course" sees a need to give the police the resources and tools they need to reverse the trend of serious gang crime.
The Centre states that it will vote for an extension beyond 2028 if given the opportunity.
"Gunnar Strömmer is grasping at straws when the Moderates try to make the Centre Party appear as left-wing radical in legal policy," says C's legal policy spokesperson Ulrika Liljeberg.
