Sweden has unveiled plans to fight gang violence by lowering sentences for individuals who cooperate with the police.
The proposal focuses on suspects and “key witnesses” who may work with felony investigators to assist establish different offenders.
Social Democrat Justice Minister Morgan Johansson mentioned the plans aimed to “break the tradition of silence” inside Swedish gangs.
“It should pay to cooperate with the police,” he informed a press convention on Friday.
Swedish criminals can at the moment have their sentence decreased in the event that they cooperate with investigators in their very own case, however not by serving to to catch others.
The draft regulation — which was initially put ahead in 2019 — additionally proposes harsher penalties for intimidating witnesses and obstructing justice.
“Those that assault complainants and witnesses aren’t solely attacking them but additionally the judicial system as an entire,” Johansson mentioned.
In recent times, Sweden has been confronted with a wave of organised crime and deadly shootings.
One of many nation’s most well-known rappers — 19-year-old Einar — was murdered in a Stockholm suburb in October final yr.
In 2021 alone, the Scandinavian nation registered a complete of 346 shootings, leading to 46 deaths.
Sweden’s authorities says the newest proposals have been impressed by comparable measures in Norway and Denmark to deal with organised crime.
The problem can be set to be a vital a part of campaigning forward of Sweden’s subsequent common election in September.
The Social Democrat authorities had already responded to criticism by passing a regulation final summer time that toughened sentences for younger criminals aged between 18 and 20.
