Sweden doubles prison sentences for gang‑related crimes

Sweden has introduced a new criminal‑law package that doubles the maximum penalties for gang‑related offences. Effective 1 August, a gang member caught with a firearm can now face up to eight years in prison, compared with the previous four‑year ceiling. The revised rules also apply to minors, although certain cases allow for reduced sentences.

The reform, approved by the Swedish Parliament in June, is part of a broader overhaul affecting around 50 sentencing categories. It raises the upper limit for the doubled penalties to 18 years of imprisonment. Authorities say the measure is aimed at curbing the country’s long‑standing gang violence, even though recent gun‑related incidents and fatalities have been relatively low. The changes were modelled on Denmark’s tougher approach to gang crime.