"In the serious situation we find ourselves in, we must try new measures, writes the Tidö parties' leaders in a debate article in Expressen.
They point out that the number of crime suspicions against children under 15 years has increased sharply in recent years and that serious crime is creeping down in age.
The reduction of the age of criminal responsibility that the government will propose will be time-limited to five years and only apply to certain serious crimes such as murder. The idea is that the legislative change should be introduced before this term of office is over.
Proposed 14 years
The party leaders also point out that by lowering the limit to 13 years, the police and the Prison and Probation Service will have the opportunity to use their entire toolbox against the youngest serious criminals at an early stage.
The government's investigator proposed in January that the age of criminal responsibility be lowered from 15 to 14 years for certain crimes. This could lead to even younger children being recruited by gangs, warned the police, prosecutors, and courts. There was also criticism that the lowered limit would apply to certain crimes, but not others.
Not mature
The National Board of Health and Welfare was also critical and points out that no new knowledge has emerged about children's development that makes it more reasonable for a 14-year-old to be considered mature enough to be sentenced for crimes.
The Social Democrats' party congress took a stand in the spring to lower the limit to 14 years temporarily for the most serious crimes.
14 years is also the age that the UN stands behind. So if you are going to have a different age, you should have very, very good reasons for it, says S leader Magdalena Andersson.
The Tidö parties point out in the debate article that several other European countries, such as Ireland and England, have had an even lower age of criminal responsibility since before.
