2023-12-132023/24:JuU4 · p.2JuUJustice
Further Penalty Enhancements
Further increases to minimum sentences for aggravated arms and explosives offences
What's at stake: A further increase in the minimum sentence, for example to five years instead of four, would create one of Europe's strictest laws in this area and could act as a deterrent, but also risks going further than is considered proportionate or necessary.
Case texts and AI reasoning are AI-translated from the Swedish originals; the Swedish text is authoritative.
What the vote decides
The question is whether the minimum sentences for the most serious arms and explosives offences should be raised even further than the government's proposal, or whether the proposed sentencing ranges are already well calibrated.
Yes Yes — the committee proposal
The committee shares the government's assessment that the proposed sentencing ranges are well calibrated and sees no reason for parliament to take the initiative for further increases in sentences beyond what the bill proposes.
No No — the reservations
Reservation 1 (C)
The reservation welcomes the government's tougher sentences but considers they do not go far enough, and wants the minimum sentence for the most serious arms and explosives offences raised further, to at least five years instead of four, which would make the legislation one of Europe's strictest in this area.
Summarised from the committee report. Party labels in the summary come from the report, not from the vote.
What do the votes mean here?
Yes The committee proposal: rejecting the motions (keeping things as they are).
No Backing the counter-proposal: reservation 1 by C.
Abstain The party marks a position of its own that is not one of the two final alternatives.
The decision would have gone the other way
Explicit commitments that contradicted the vote: KDKristdemokraterna, LLiberalerna, MModeraterna, SSocialdemokraterna, SDSverigedemokraterna
Ja 276–21Nej 36–261
Counterfactual: the parties above are moved to the position their own documents explicitly point at, carrying their whole contingent present. Every other party keeps its real figures, including dissenters and absentees.
How the AI parties would have voted
For each party: what its own plan – election manifesto and party programme – argues for in this case, next to how the party actually voted. The AI can only answer Yes or No; a party can also abstain.
| AI | Vote | Confidence | Evidence | ||
|---|---|---|---|---|---|
| V | Yes | Yes 19/0/0/5 | match | confidence: medium | derived |
| S | No | Yes 92/0/0/15 | differsagainst own programme | confidence: high | explicit |
| MP | Yes | Yes 16/0/0/2 | match | confidence: medium | derived |
| C | No | No 0/21/0/3 | match | confidence: medium | derived |
| L | No | Yes 12/0/0/4 | differsagainst own programme | confidence: high | explicit |
| KD | No | Yes 16/0/0/3 | differsagainst own programme | confidence: high | explicit |
| M | No | Yes 58/0/0/10 | differsagainst own programme | confidence: high | explicit |
| SD | No | Yes 62/0/0/10 | differsagainst own programme | confidence: high | explicit |
Committee proposal
Parliament rejects motion 2023/24:2776 by Ulrika Liljeberg et al. (C).
Original (Swedish)
Riksdagen avslår motion 2023/24:2776 av Ulrika Liljeberg m.fl. (C).
Riksdag decision: Parliament approved the government's proposal for increased penalties for serious forms of firearms crimes, violations of licensing requirements for explosives, arms smuggling, and smuggling of explosives. The proposals entail tightening the laws in the following way: The penalty scales for serious crimes are changed from imprisonment for at least two years and at most five years to imprisonment for at least four years and at most seven years. The penalty scales for aggravated serious crimes are changed from imprisonment for at least four years and at most seven years to imprisonment for at least six years and at most ten years. Maximum penalties for ordinary-grade crimes are raised from imprisonment for three years to imprisonment for five years. The purpose is to emphasize the seriousness of these crimes, which are often committed by criminal networks. The legislative changes shall take effect on January 1, 2024.
Counter-proposals
- The counter-proposal wants minimum sentences for gross weapons crimes and serious explosives violations increased to at least five years. (C) — Reservation 1
Plan vs actual vote
Every party, in chamber order: what its own plan pointed to, how it voted, and the reasoning behind both. Highlighted rows are where the two differ — but a vote that follows the plan is a result too, so the reasoning is there for every party.
The plan's decisive commitment is that certain penalties may need to be raised but that much more focus must be directed towards preventing the recruitment of children to gang crime, and that repression is far too often put forward instead of taking the problems seriously.
Plan documents: 2022 manifesto
Reasoning and quotes
The plan's decisive commitment is that certain penalties may need to be raised but that much more focus must be directed towards preventing the recruitment of children to gang crime, and that repression is far too often put forward instead of taking the problems seriously. Driving the minimum penalty further to one of Europe's strictest levels is precisely such a repressive line and is therefore rejected. The plan also speaks to the committee's reasons that penalty scales are well-balanced.
Original (Swedish)
Planens avgörande åtagande är att vissa straff kan behöva höjas men att mycket mer fokus måste riktas mot att förhindra rekryteringen av barn till gängkriminalitet, och att repression alltför ofta lyfts fram i stället för att problemen tas på allvar. Att driva minimistraffet vidare till en av Europas strängaste nivåer är just en sådan repressionslinje och avvisas därför. Planen talar också till utskottets skäl att straffskalorna är väl avvägda.
- prevention before increased penaltiesdecisive»Vissa straff kan behöva höjas men mycket mer fokus måste riktas mot att förhindra rekryteringen av nya barn till gängkriminalitet.« (2022 manifesto ↗)“Certain penalties may need to be raised but much more focus must be directed towards preventing the recruitment of new children to gang crime.”
- criticism of repression»Alltför ofta lyfts repression och hårdare tag upp som lösningar istället för att ta itu med problemen på allvar.« (2022 manifesto ↗)“Far too often repression and harder measures are put forward as solutions instead of seriously addressing the problems.”
- smarter crime prevention»För att få ner brottsligheten går det inte bara att vara hård mot de kriminella, det gäller att vara smartare än de kriminella.« (2022 manifesto ↗)“To reduce crime it is not enough to be tough on criminals, it is necessary to be smarter than the criminals.”
- address the causes of crime»men framför allt med en kamp mot kriminalitetens djupare orsaker – klassamhället, segregationen, rasismen på arbetsmarknaden, trångboddheten och bristen på framtidstro« (2022 manifesto ↗)“but above all with a fight against the deeper causes of crime – class society, segregation, racism in the labour market, overcrowding and lack of hope for the future”
The election manifesto explicitly promises to double the penalty for serious weapons crimes, i.e.
Plan documents: 2022 manifesto · party programme
Reasoning and quotes
The election manifesto explicitly promises to double the penalty for serious weapons crimes, i.e. a higher level than what the committee deems well-balanced. The counter-proposal's requirement for a higher minimum sentence for the most serious weapons and explosive crimes therefore aligns with the plan, as does the demand for action against weapons smuggling. According to the plan, the fight against crime shall be uncompromising.
Original (Swedish)
Valmanifestet lovar uttryckligen att fördubbla straffet för grova vapenbrott, alltså en högre nivå än den som utskottet anser väl avvägd. Motförslagets krav på ett höjt minimistraff för de grövsta vapen- och sprängämnesbrotten ligger därför i linje med planen, liksom kravet på krafttag mot införsel av vapen. Kampen mot kriminaliteten ska enligt planen vara kompromisslös.
- doubled penalty for weapons crimesdecisive»Vi vill fördubbla straffet för grova vapenbrott.« (2022 manifesto ↗)“We want to double the penalty for serious weapons crimes.”
- action against weapons»Vi vill ta krafttag mot införsel av vapen och narkotika, bland annat genom stärkt gränskontroll.« (2022 manifesto ↗)“We want to take action against weapons and drug smuggling, among other things through strengthened border control.”
- uncompromising crime fighting»Kampen mot kriminaliteten ska vara kompromisslös.« (2022 manifesto ↗)“The fight against crime shall be uncompromising.”
- clear response to crime»Samhället måste reagera tydligt mot brott och regelöverträdelser.« (party programme ↗)“Society must respond clearly to crime and rule violations.”
The stance rests on the quoted commitment in the party's own documents; the actual vote deviated. Click the quote to verify it in the document.
The plan's overarching line against armed violence and gang crime is prevention work in disadvantaged areas, reduced marginalisation and a humane criminal justice system that breaks recidivism, not gradually increased minimum sentences.
Plan documents: party programme · 2022 manifesto
Reasoning and quotes
The plan's overarching line against armed violence and gang crime is prevention work in disadvantaged areas, reduced marginalisation and a humane criminal justice system that breaks recidivism, not gradually increased minimum sentences. Raising the minimum penalty to at least five years to get one of Europe's strictest laws lacks support in the plan and stands in tension with its view of sanctions' purpose. The counter-proposal's demand is therefore rejected.
Original (Swedish)
Planens bärande linje mot vapenvåld och gängkriminalitet är förebyggande arbete i eftersatta områden, minskad marginalisering och en human kriminalvård som bryter återfall, inte stegvis höjda minimistraff. Att höja minimistraffet till minst fem år för att få en av Europas strängaste lagstiftningar saknar stöd i planen och står i spänning med dess syn på påföljdernas syfte. Motförslagets krav avvisas därför.
- prevention as foundationdecisive»Det brottsförebyggande arbetet är grunden för ett« (party programme ↗)“Crime prevention work is the foundation for a”
- reduced marginalisation reduces crime»tryggt samhälle med låg kriminalitet. Det viktigaste brottsförebyggande arbetet sker genom att« (party programme ↗)“safe society with low crime. The most important crime prevention work happens through”
- humane criminal justice»human och ha som mål att den som dömts inte ska« (party programme ↗)“human and aims that the person sentenced shall not”
- prevention efforts»storsatsa på det förebyggande arbetet i socioekonomiskt eftersatta områden.« (2022 manifesto ↗)“push hard on prevention work in socioeconomically disadvantaged areas.”
The plan requires stricter penalties and measures against gang crime and states that society shall not yield to gangs, with stricter penalties as an explicit tool.
Plan documents: 2022 manifesto · party programme
Reasoning and quotes
The plan requires stricter penalties and measures against gang crime and states that society shall not yield to gangs, with stricter penalties as an explicit tool. Increased minimum sentences for the most serious weapons and explosives offences is in line with this and with the plan's view of deterrence as part of criminal policy. The plan therefore supports the counter-proposal's demands in substance.
Original (Swedish)
Planen kräver hårdare straff och krafttag mot gängbrottslighet och slår fast att samhället inte ska vika sig för gängen, med strängare straff som ett uttalat verktyg. Höjt minimistraff för de grövsta vapen- och sprängämnesbrotten ligger i linje med detta och med planens syn på avskräckning som en del av kriminalpolitiken. Planen stöder därför motförslagets krav i sak.
- stricter penalties for gang crimedecisive»Sverige behöver fler poliser, hårdare straff och bättre förebyggande insatser — med krafttag mot såväl gängbrottslighet, våld mot barn och mäns våld mot kvinnor.« (2022 manifesto ↗)“Sweden needs more police, stricter penalties and better preventive measures — with measures against gang crime, violence against children and men's violence against women.”
- stricter penalties against gangs»Samhället ska inte vika sig för gängen. För att besegra dem krävs bättre insatser som förebygger nyrekrytering, mer resurser till polis, åklagare, domstolar och kriminalvården och strängare straff.« (2022 manifesto ↗)“Society shall not yield to gangs. To defeat them, better measures that prevent recruitment, more resources for police, prosecutors, courts and prisons, and stricter penalties are required.”
- deterrent criminal policy»Kriminalpolitiken ska därför både förebygga och avskräcka från brott, stödja brottsdrabbade och stimulera dem som har begått olagliga handlingar till en ny livssituation utan brottslighet.« (party programme ↗)“Criminal policy shall therefore both prevent and deter from crime, support crime victims and encourage those who have committed illegal acts towards a new situation without crime.”
The election manifesto explicitly states that penalties shall be sharpened for, among other things, weapons crimes and that more serious crime requires longer sentences.
Plan documents: 2022 manifesto · party programme
Reasoning and quotes
The election manifesto explicitly states that penalties shall be sharpened for, among other things, weapons crimes and that more serious crime requires longer sentences. A raised minimum penalty for the most serious weapons and explosives crimes is exactly such a tightening. The plan also establishes that more gang criminals shall be held in custody longer, which supports the counter-proposal's demands.
Original (Swedish)
Valmanifestet säger uttryckligen att straffen ska skärpas för bland annat vapenbrott och att grövre brottslighet kräver längre straff. Ett höjt minimistraff för de grövsta vapen- och sprängämnesbrotten är exakt en sådan skärpning. Planen slår också fast att fler gängkriminella ska hållas inlåsta längre, vilket bär motförslagets krav.
- tightened penalties for weapons crimesdecisive»Vi vill avskaffa dagens mängdrabatt på brott, slopa den närmast automatiska frigivningen från fängelsestraff och skärpa straffen för bland annat vapenbrott, våldtäkt och utpressning.« (2022 manifesto ↗)“We want to abolish today's quantity discount on crimes, eliminate the nearly automatic release from prison sentences and tighten penalties for, among other things, weapons crimes, rape and extortion.”
- longer sentences for more serious crime»En grövre brottslighet kräver längre straff.« (2022 manifesto ↗)“More serious crime requires longer sentences.”
- longer custody of gang criminals»Nu behövs en politik från partier som både ser till att färre unga blir gängkriminella och att fler gängkriminella döms till fängelse och hålls inlåsta längre.« (2022 manifesto ↗)“Now we need a policy from parties that both ensures that fewer young people become gang criminals and that more gang criminals are sentenced to prison and held in custody longer.”
- harsher sanctions»Påföljdssystemet ska förändras så att återfall och upprepad brottslighet ger strängare straff« (party programme ↗)“The sanctions system shall be changed so that reoffending and repeated crime result in harsher penalties”
The stance rests on the quoted commitment in the party's own documents; the actual vote deviated. Click the quote to verify it in the document.
The election manifesto explicitly requires that the penalty for weapons offences be increased to at least five years' imprisonment, which is precisely the minimum sentence the counter-proposal wants instead of four years.
Plan documents: 2022 manifesto · party programme
Reasoning and quotes
The election manifesto explicitly requires that the penalty for weapons offences be increased to at least five years' imprisonment, which is precisely the minimum sentence the counter-proposal wants instead of four years. The plan drives increased penalties also in other areas and requires swift, predictable reactions to crime. The committee's assessment that the scales are already well-balanced lacks support in the plan.
Original (Swedish)
Valmanifestet kräver uttryckligen att straffet för vapenbrott skärps till lägst fem års fängelse, vilket är precis det minimistraff motförslaget vill se i stället för fyra år. Planen driver skärpta straff också på andra områden och kräver snabba, förutsägbara reaktioner på brott. Utskottets bedömning att skalorna redan är väl avvägda saknar stöd i planen.
- five years' minimum sentence for weapons offencesdecisive»Skärp straffet för vapenbrott till lägst fem års fängelse.« (2022 manifesto ↗)“Increase the penalty for weapons offences to at least five years' imprisonment.”
- significantly increased penalties»Skärp straffen för sexualbrott kraftigt.« (2022 manifesto ↗)“Significantly increase penalties for sexual offences.”
- clear general prevention»förutsägbara reaktioner som är förankrade i en human och tydlig lagstiftning« (party programme ↗)“predictable reactions grounded in humane and clear legislation”
- extremely serious state of affairs»Sverige befinner sig i en extrem situation.« (2022 manifesto ↗)“Sweden is in an extreme situation.”
The stance rests on the quoted commitment in the party's own documents; the actual vote deviated. Click the quote to verify it in the document.
The plan requires that the minimum penalty for serious firearms offences be increased from two to six years' imprisonment, well above the four years now proposed.
Plan documents: 2022 manifesto
Reasoning and quotes
The plan requires that the minimum penalty for serious firearms offences be increased from two to six years' imprisonment, well above the four years now proposed. The counter-proposal's requirement of at least five years moves in the direction the plan indicates and is less extensive than the plan's own commitment. The plan also wants to see double sentences for gang criminals and significant increases in penalties for repeat offences.
Original (Swedish)
Planen kräver att minimistraffet för grova vapenbrott skärps från två till sex års fängelse, alltså långt över de fyra år som nu föreslås. Motförslagets krav på minst fem år ligger i den riktning planen anger och är mindre långtgående än planens eget åtagande. Planen vill dessutom se dubbla straff för gängkriminella och kraftiga skärpningar vid återfall.
- significantly increased minimum sentence for firearms offencesdecisive»Skärpa minimistraffen för grova vapenbrott från dagens 2 års fängelse till 6 års fängelse« (2022 manifesto ↗)“Increase minimum sentences for serious firearms offences from today's 2 years imprisonment to 6 years imprisonment”
- double sentences for gang criminals»Införa dubbla straff för gängkriminella« (2022 manifesto ↗)“Introduce double sentences for gang criminals”
- increases for repeat offences»Införa ett system med kraftiga straffskärpningar vid återfall« (2022 manifesto ↗)“Introduce a system with significant penalty increases for repeat offences”
- stop shootings and bombings»Under 2021 inträffade 342 skjutningar och 79 fullbordade sprängningar – i snitt mer än en skjutning eller sprängning om dagen.« (2022 manifesto ↗)“In 2021, there were 342 shootings and 79 completed bombings – on average, more than one shooting or bombing per day.”
The stance rests on the quoted commitment in the party's own documents; the actual vote deviated. Click the quote to verify it in the document.
The counter-proposal wants to raise the minimum sentence for the most serious weapons and explosive crimes from four to five years.
Plan documents: 2022 manifesto · party programme
Reasoning and quotes
The counter-proposal wants to raise the minimum sentence for the most serious weapons and explosive crimes from four to five years. The plan explicitly requires significantly increased sentences, especially for gang crime, and establishes that few measures are too far-reaching when gangs are to be pushed back. An additional sentence increase therefore lies directly in the plan's direction.
Original (Swedish)
Motförslaget vill höja minimistraffet för de grövsta vapen- och sprängämnesbrotten från fyra till fem år. Planen kräver uttryckligen kraftigt höjda straff, särskilt för gängkriminalitet, och slår fast att få åtgärder är för långtgående när gängen ska pressas tillbaka. En ytterligare straffskärpning ligger därför direkt i planens riktning.
- harder sentences for gang crimedecisive»Kraftigt höja straffen för gängkriminella« (2022 manifesto ↗)“Significantly increase sentences for gang criminals”
- uncompromising against gangs»Sverigedemokraterna anser att få politiska åtgärder är för långtgående när det kommer till att pressa tillbaka både de kriminella gängen och den kultur som gör att de får fäste.« (2022 manifesto ↗)“Sweden Democrats believe that few political measures are too far-reaching when it comes to pushing back both the criminal gangs and the culture that makes them get a foothold.”
- significantly increased sentences»Kraftigt höja straffen samt avskaffa mängdrabatten vid allvarliga brott mot person« (2022 manifesto ↗)“Significantly increase sentences and abolish the quantity reduction for serious crimes against persons”
- proportionate sentences»Straff skall stå i rimlig proportion till brottet och ge offren« (party programme ↗)“Punishment shall be in reasonable proportion to the crime and provide victims”
The stance rests on the quoted commitment in the party's own documents; the actual vote deviated. Click the quote to verify it in the document.
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Sources and documents
- The committee report on riksdagen.se (2023/24:JuU4)
- Committee report full text (HB01JuU4)
- Per-MP voting data (API)
- Case status (API)
Documents under consideration
- Motion 2023/24:2640 — Utgiftsområde 4 Rättsväsendet av Ardalan Shekarabi m.fl. (S)
- Motion 2023/24:2771 — med anledning av prop. 2023/24:33 Skjutvapen och explosiva varor - skärpta straff för de allvarligare brotten av Ardalan Shekarabi m.fl. (S)
- Motion 2023/24:2776 — med anledning av prop. 2023/24:33 Skjutvapen och explosiva varor - skärpta straff för de allvarligare brotten av Ulrika Liljeberg m.fl. (C)
- Proposition 2023/24:33 — Skjutvapen och explosiva varor - skärpta straff för de allvarligare brotten
Source: The Swedish Parliament