Reinfeldt calls for tough approach on crime
Sweden's Prime Minister Fredrik Reinfeldt has called for a tougher stance on certain crimes, including burglary.
"The penalties for some crimes are unjustifiably low," Reinfeldt said.
Speaking at a Moderate party conference, Reinfeldt warned that the rules in the legal system provide immunity from penalties for certain crimes and criminals in some situations see themselves as immune from penalty.
Reinfeldt presented a number of proposals to strengthen society's response to crime, including calling for higher sentences for residential burglary.
He observed that when investigating someone who is suspected of a slew of burglaries, the police often investigate only a couple of them.
The Prime Minister therefore sought a change to the rules that allow the police to neglect to investigate all suspected crimes.
He also expressed regret over cases where convicted criminals have time to commit new crimes before sentences are executed, a situation which he claimed the legal system ignores.
Bullying and harassment on the internet was another area which Reinfeldt referred to in his speech, arguing that more cases should lead to charges.
"It can not be a penalty-free zone," he said, expressing the wish to establish a national cybercrime centre.
Reinfeldt was also critical of how the statistics of solved crimes were reported, referring specifically to crimes classified as solved, when in fact the cases had simply been closed.
Furthermore Reinfeldt wants to abolish the so-called youth discount on punishment for offenders aged between 18-21-years-old and allow for a curfew on weekends for young offenders, to be controlled by electronic tagging.
These two proposals were previously presented last winter.
Reinfeldt also proposed an intelligence guarantee which would mean that victims should be informed about the progress of a police investigation.
"All of these ten points, we want to do together with our Alliance coalition friends and go to the polls with," he said.
Comments
See Also
"The penalties for some crimes are unjustifiably low," Reinfeldt said.
Speaking at a Moderate party conference, Reinfeldt warned that the rules in the legal system provide immunity from penalties for certain crimes and criminals in some situations see themselves as immune from penalty.
Reinfeldt presented a number of proposals to strengthen society's response to crime, including calling for higher sentences for residential burglary.
He observed that when investigating someone who is suspected of a slew of burglaries, the police often investigate only a couple of them.
The Prime Minister therefore sought a change to the rules that allow the police to neglect to investigate all suspected crimes.
He also expressed regret over cases where convicted criminals have time to commit new crimes before sentences are executed, a situation which he claimed the legal system ignores.
Bullying and harassment on the internet was another area which Reinfeldt referred to in his speech, arguing that more cases should lead to charges.
"It can not be a penalty-free zone," he said, expressing the wish to establish a national cybercrime centre.
Reinfeldt was also critical of how the statistics of solved crimes were reported, referring specifically to crimes classified as solved, when in fact the cases had simply been closed.
Furthermore Reinfeldt wants to abolish the so-called youth discount on punishment for offenders aged between 18-21-years-old and allow for a curfew on weekends for young offenders, to be controlled by electronic tagging.
These two proposals were previously presented last winter.
Reinfeldt also proposed an intelligence guarantee which would mean that victims should be informed about the progress of a police investigation.
"All of these ten points, we want to do together with our Alliance coalition friends and go to the polls with," he said.
Join the conversation in our comments section below. Share your own views and experience and if you have a question or suggestion for our journalists then email us at [email protected].
Please keep comments civil, constructive and on topic – and make sure to read our terms of use before getting involved.
Please log in here to leave a comment.