Swedish opposition proposes $160M anti-gang recruitment plan

Sweden's Social Democratic opposition party has unveiled a 1.7 billion kronor ($160 million) shadow budget to combat gang recruitment. The plan targets social services with specific measures to prevent young people from joining criminal gangs.

Party justice spokesperson Teresa Carvalho said the government has a blind spot in prevention efforts. She stated interventions must come earlier to be effective.

The funding would go directly to municipalities for anti-crime programs. These include individual monitoring of at-risk youth through personal mentors and electronic tags. The plan also features home visitation programs for families with specific risk factors.

Carvalho pointed to a recent shooting in Gävle as evidence of the urgent need. Police and social services had been monitoring a 13-year-old involved in the incident. She called the event deeply disturbing that such young children were out late at night with firearms.

The spokesperson acknowledged the government has taken some correct measures against gang crime. These include tougher sentences, more police officers, and expanded surveillance powers for minors under 15. However, she argued municipalities conducting most prevention work have faced budget cuts.

This proposal highlights Sweden's ongoing struggle with youth gang violence. The country has seen increasing incidents involving teenagers in organized crime. The opposition's plan represents a significant investment in social prevention rather than purely law enforcement approaches.

Why are Swedish politicians focusing on early intervention? Recent cases show children as young as 13 becoming involved in serious criminal activities despite being known to authorities.