Sweden will lower the age of criminal responsibility from the current 15, Prime Minister Ulf Kristersson said on Tuesday, following an increase in cases of crime gangs recruiting children via social media and using them as hitmen.
The number of under-15s suspected of murder, aiding and abetting murder, or attempted murder was 93 in the first six months of 2024, according to the latest official data—triple the figure from the same period a year earlier.
A government-appointed investigator recommended earlier this year that the age of criminal responsibility be lowered to 14 in cases of particularly serious crime, but Kristersson did not clarify whether his government would adopt that exact proposal.
“Children are being ruthlessly exploited by criminal networks to commit serious crimes,” he said in his annual policy speech as parliament reopened after the summer break. “Both to protect these children and their potential victims, the government is taking strong action against this type of cynical exploitation.”
The reform marks one of the most significant changes to Sweden’s juvenile justice system in decades. Since the 1960s, the country has prided itself on a relatively high threshold for criminal responsibility compared with many other European nations. Critics have argued that lowering the age risks criminalizing vulnerable children who are themselves victims of exploitation, while supporters say the move is necessary to curb violence and restore public safety.
Sweden has long struggled with organized crime, particularly linked to drug trafficking and territorial disputes in major cities such as Stockholm, Gothenburg, and Malmö. Over the past five years, gangs have increasingly turned to recruiting younger children, using encrypted messaging apps and popular social media platforms to lure them with promises of money, status, and protection.
Many of these children are asked to carry weapons, transport drugs, or even carry out shootings. Authorities say gangs exploit the fact that children under 15 cannot be prosecuted under current law, treating them as expendable assets.
The government insists that lowering the age of criminal responsibility will not only ensure accountability but also expand the scope for intervention, including rehabilitation programs and protective services. Swedish legal experts have warned that prisons are not the solution, urging investment in social workers, schools, and community initiatives alongside tougher penalties.
Child rights organizations, meanwhile, stress that poverty, segregation, and lack of opportunity in certain neighborhoods fuel the cycle of gang recruitment. They caution that without addressing these root causes, the new law risks punishing children while leaving criminal networks intact.
Despite the government’s concerns, police statistics show that the overall number of gang-related shootings and bombings has declined in 2024. Analysts attribute this partly to stronger police crackdowns and partly to internal truces among rival groups. Still, the sharp rise in child involvement has alarmed both policymakers and the public.
Sweden’s decision to lower its threshold comes at a time when many European countries are rethinking youth crime policies.
United Kingdom: Children can face criminal charges from the age of 10, one of the lowest in Europe. The system has long been criticized for being too punitive.
France: The age of criminal responsibility is effectively 13, though children as young as 10 can face some legal measures short of prison.
Germany: The threshold is 14, with strong emphasis on rehabilitation over punishment.
Norway and Finland: Both set the age at 15, like Sweden currently does, and are considered among the most protective of juvenile offenders.
Japan: The minimum is 14, though special correctional measures may apply to younger offenders.
The Swedish reform would bring the country closer to Germany’s model, but still keep it far above the U.K.’s controversial system.
Opposition parties were quick to react. Leaders of the Social Democrats said they welcomed stronger action against organized crime but warned the government not to overlook prevention: “Lowering the age alone will not solve the problem. We need investments in schools, social services, and integration to stop gangs from preying on children in the first place.”
Police unions cautiously backed the proposal, saying it would give authorities “more tools” to deal with youth crime but stressed the importance of specialized juvenile courts and rehabilitation programs to prevent repeat offenses.
Child rights advocates, however, expressed concern.
Many of these kids are victims before they ever become offenders. Criminalizing them earlier risks worsening their trauma instead of breaking the cycle of violence."Save the Children Sweden" organization said in a statement
Kristersson closed his address by insisting the reforms would be paired with social support measures: “We must act decisively, but we must also act responsibly. These children deserve protection from the gangs that use them as disposable tools of violence.”
Observers say the debate in Sweden reflects a broader European challenge: how to balance protecting society from increasingly violent youth crime while safeguarding the rights of children caught in criminal exploitation.