Justice Minister Gunnar Strömmer has rejected lowering the age of criminal responsibility to 12 following the suspected murder of a 21-year-old man in Oxie near Malmö by a 12-year-old boy. He stresses a 'lower limit' exists and calls for stronger social services interventions.
In the wake of Saturday's fatal shooting in Oxie—where a 12-year-old boy is suspected of killing a 21-year-old man and fleeing toward Helsingborg—Strömmer (M) held a press conference on Wednesday after meetings with party criminal policy spokespersons.
The government proposes prison eligibility for 13-year-olds in serious cases but rules out 12. "It is not relevant," Strömmer said. "There is some kind of lower limit."
He expressed no surprise at the suspect's age, noting around 50 youths under 15 involved in murders or plots this year. Debate centers on whether small municipalities' social services can handle such cases or if criminal care should intervene for 13–14-year-olds. "We see a large group of children who today are not handled well," he said.
Police have held crisis meetings, highlighting social services' lack of tools for such young serious offenders. Strömmer agrees: "No thinking or feeling person wants children locked up." Yet, he notes some commit grave crimes like murders, shootings, and explosions, posing risks.
Reforms include a new social services law, broken secrecy barriers, tougher parental measures, and LVU review. Despite protests from 168 prosecutors and judges, Strömmer welcomes debate on this 'biggest unsolved problem' but deems alternatives insufficient.
Authorities continue searching for additional perpetrators or instigators.
