Sweden is moving forward with plans to lower the age of criminal responsibility from 15 to 13 in serious cases as it grapples with a growing number of children recruited into gangs to carry out violent crimes without facing serious legal repercussions. Justice Minister Gunnar Strommer said the country was in an "emergency situation" and stopping the use of children in criminal networks was a "crucial task" for the government. But several authorities, including police, prison officials and prosecutors, have opposed the plan, with some worried that it may lead to even younger children becoming offenders. If passed, the legislation will go into force as early as this summer. Strommer insisted that the proposal did not amount to a "general lowering of the age of criminal responsibility" and would only apply to the "most serious crimes" such as murder, attempted murder, aggravated bombings, aggravated weapons offences and aggravated rape. Under the proposal, some of these offenders could face prison sentences in certain cases. Data from the Swedish National Council for Crime Prevention shows that the number of registered offences linked to suspects under the age of 15 has doubled over the past decade. The current government came into power in 2022 vowing to crack down on organised crime. At the beginning of last year, a government-ordered inquiry recommended lowering the age of criminal responsibility to 14 in serious cases. Prime Minister Ulf Kristersson confirmed in September that it would be lowered from 15, saying children are "being ruthlessly exploited by criminal networks to commit serious crimes". "Both to protect these children and their potential victims, the government is taking strong action against this type of cynical exploitation," he added. https://www.bbc.com/news/articles/c4gw49gk13xo