Denmark to Pressure Sweden on Cross-Border Gang Violence

Denmark is set to intensify efforts to combat cross-border gang violence originating from Sweden, as announced by Danish officials on August 12, 2024. The initiative comes in response to a surge in criminal activities on Danish soil perpetrated by Swedish gang members in recent months.

Peter Hummelgaard, Denmark's Minister of Justice, expressed concern over the involvement of Swedish teenagers in gang-related conflicts, referring to them as "child soldiers" in turf wars. He stated, "We will of course also put pressure on Sweden to take responsibility for these things."

Denmark has already implemented measures to address this issue. Last week, Danish police began more active monitoring of passengers arriving by train from Sweden. The government also plans to introduce facial recognition technology to expedite investigations that are currently conducted manually.

Thorkild Fogde, Denmark's national chief of police, issued a stern warning to Swedish gang members involved in cross-border violence, stating, "There will be a price to pay and it will be high."

The situation highlights the challenges faced by both countries in addressing gang-related issues. According to a Swedish police report from 2023, Sweden has approximately 14,000 active gang criminals and an additional 48,000 individuals loosely affiliated with gangs. These figures are particularly concerning given Sweden's population of about 10.4 million, compared to Denmark's 5.8 million.

The severity of the problem is further underscored by Eurostat data from 2021, which revealed that Sweden had the highest per capita rate of gun violence in the European Union. In that year, 25 individuals aged 15-24 were killed by gun violence in Sweden, second only to France, which reported 40 such deaths across a population six times larger than Sweden's.

The Swedish justice ministry did not immediately respond to a request for comment.

This cross-border issue is exacerbated by the geographical proximity of the two countries, connected by the Øresund Bridge, which facilitates easy travel between them. Both nations are part of the Nordic Passport Union, allowing free movement across borders.

While Denmark has traditionally experienced lower crime rates compared to Sweden, the recent spillover of gang violence has prompted a reevaluation of security measures. Denmark's stricter gun laws and different approach to integration may play a role in the contrasting situations between the two countries.

The European Union has expressed concern over the rising gang violence in Sweden, and both countries have a history of cooperation on various issues, including crime prevention. As the situation evolves, it remains to be seen how Sweden will respond to Denmark's pressure and address the ongoing challenges of gang violence and youth involvement in criminal activities.