Sweden Supreme Court approves preventive stay ban for gang leader

The Swedish Supreme Court has issued its first ruling regarding the new law on preventive stay bans, approving a ban for a man identified by police as a leader of a criminal network in Gothenburg.

The court established that the assessment for such a ban must involve a two-step risk evaluation: one concerning the criminal network involved and another concerning the specific individual. To qualify, a person linked to a network must be feared to promote serious crime within that group.

The case involves a man in the Biskopsgården area of Hisingen, whom police describe as having well-documented involvement in the network's criminal activities. The approved stay ban covers large parts of Gothenburg.

Under the law, which took effect on February 1, 2024, a stay ban prohibits an individual from entering specific public areas. A person does not need a prior criminal conviction to be subject to the ban. It is intended for those who promote crime where there is a risk of firearms or explosives being used, or activities that seriously damage public safety. Decisions are made by prosecutors for six-month periods, and violations can result in up to one year in prison or fines.