2023-05-242022/23:JuU21 · p.1JuUJustice
Drug tests of children under 15 years in more cases
Expanded scope for drug-testing children under 15 suspected of crime
What's at stake: An expansion would make it easier for authorities to assess a child's need for support when drug use is suspected, but it also means more coerced bodily interventions on children, raising questions about children's privacy and protection from unnecessary intrusion.
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 more drug tests should be allowed to be carried out on children under 15 suspected of using drugs, or whether the current, narrower scope for such tests should be kept unchanged.
Yes Yes — the committee proposal
The committee backs the government's proposal to allow more drug tests of children under 15, since the public authorities' duty to act on suspected drug use and the interest in preventing substance abuse among children outweigh the privacy intrusion a coerced drug test entails.
No No — the reservations
Reservation 1 (V)
The reservation argues that the proposal to allow more drug tests of children under 15 should not be adopted, since all people, especially children, should be protected from unnecessary intrusions such as bodily examinations, the current regulation is already sufficient, and society should instead invest in preventive support, for example by broadening youth clinics' remit and establishing a national knowledge centre on youth addiction.
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: adopting the government's legislative proposal and rejecting the motions (keeping things as they are).
No Backing the counter-proposal: reservation 1 by V.
Abstain The party marks a position of its own that is not one of the two final alternatives.
What each plan points to — and how the party voted
For each party: the vote its own election manifesto and party programme point to in this case, next to how the party actually voted. A plan can only point to Yes or No; a party can also abstain.
| Plan | Vote | Confidence | Evidence | ||
|---|---|---|---|---|---|
| V | No | No 0/18/0/6 | follows the plan | confidence: medium | derived |
| S | Yes | Yes 93/0/0/14 | follows the plan | confidence: medium | derived |
| MP | No | Yes 13/0/0/5 | departs from the plan | confidence: high | derived |
| C | No | Yes 20/0/0/4 | departs from the plan | confidence: medium | derived |
| L | Yes | Yes 11/0/0/5 | follows the plan | confidence: medium | derived |
| KD | Yes | Yes 14/0/0/5 | follows the plan | confidence: medium | derived |
| M | Yes | Yes 59/0/0/9 | follows the plan | confidence: medium | derived |
| SD | Yes | Yes 63/0/0/9 | follows the plan | confidence: high | derived |
Committee proposal
Parliament adopts the government's proposal for a law amending the law (1964:167) with special provisions for young offenders in the parts it concerns section 36 b. Thereby Parliament approves government bill 2022/23:78 point 2 in this part and rejects motion 2022/23:2359 by Gudrun Nordborg et al. (V).
Original (Swedish)
Riksdagen antar regeringens förslag till lag om ändring i lagen (1964:167) med särskilda bestämmelser om unga lagöverträdare i de delar det avser 36 b §. Därmed bifaller riksdagen proposition 2022/23:78 punkt 2 i denna del och avslår motion 2022/23:2359 av Gudrun Nordborg m.fl. (V).
Riksdag decision: Parliament said yes to the government's proposal which aims to improve the regulatory framework for investigations against children suspected of crime. The proposal shall ensure that these investigations maintain a high degree of legal certainty and are effective. The law amendments deal with the following: More investigations shall be able to be conducted when children under 15 years of age are suspected of crime. A complainant's counsel or a special representative for children shall be able to be appointed for the complainant when the person suspected of having committed the crime is under 15 years of age. A trial, that is a court proceeding, shall be able to be brought in more cases. It shall become possible to grant review of or set aside a judgment from a trial that has become final. More drug tests of children under 15 years of age shall be able to be conducted. It shall become possible for prosecutors to decide on youth service through a summary penalty order. The law amendments shall enter into force on 1 July 2023.
Counter-proposals
- The counter-proposal wants to develop preventive work and strengthen youth reception centers for young people with dependencies. (V) — 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 states that repression and harder measures are too often put forward instead of comprehensive preventive measures, and that drug use must be seen as a societal problem.
Plan documents: 2022 manifesto · party programme
Reasoning and quotes
The plan states that repression and harder measures are too often put forward instead of comprehensive preventive measures, and that drug use must be seen as a societal problem. The party programme safeguards personal privacy and wants to counter growing surveillance and registration. The counter-proposal's line of not allowing more compulsory drug tests of children under 15 years but instead building out preventive support follows from these commitments.
Original (Swedish)
Planen slår fast att repression och hårdare tag alltför ofta lyfts fram i stället för omfattande förebyggande insatser, och att droganvändning måste ses som ett samhällsproblem. Partiprogrammet slår vakt om den personliga integriteten och vill motverka växande övervakning och registrering. Motförslagets linje att inte tillåta fler tvångsvisa drogtester av barn under 15 år utan i stället bygga ut förebyggande stöd följer av dessa åtaganden.
- prevention before repressiondecisive»Alltför ofta lyfts repression och hårdare tag upp som lösningar istället för att ta itu med problemen på allvar.« (2022 manifesto ↗)“Too often repression and harder measures are put forward as solutions instead of tackling the problems seriously.”
- comprehensive preventive measures»Det kräver nämligen omfattande förebyggande insatser.« (2022 manifesto ↗)“That requires comprehensive preventive measures.”
- personal privacy»personliga integriteten och fundamentala principer i en rättsstat.« (party programme ↗)“personal privacy and fundamental principles in a rule of law state.”
- drugs as a societal problem»Droganvändningen är jämt fördelad över alla samhällsklasser men det är de mest utsatta i samhället som drabbas hårdast.« (2022 manifesto ↗)“Drug use is evenly distributed across all social classes but it is the most vulnerable in society who are hit hardest.”
The plan establishes that the fight against crime shall be uncompromising, that police need more tools and that children have the right to grow up free from drugs and violence.
Plan documents: 2022 manifesto · party programme
Reasoning and quotes
The plan establishes that the fight against crime shall be uncompromising, that police need more tools and that children have the right to grow up free from drugs and violence. Denying more drug tests of children under 15 goes against that line, although the plan also requires that at least as much is invested in preventive work as in police. The preventive track does not exclude more tests. The plan therefore speaks against the counter-proposal's demands.
Original (Swedish)
Planen slår fast att kampen mot kriminaliteten ska vara kompromisslös, att polisen behöver fler verktyg och att barn har rätt till en uppväxt fri från droger och våld. Att neka fler drogtester av barn under 15 år går emot den linjen, även om planen också kräver att minst lika mycket satsas på förebyggande arbete som på polis. Det förebyggande spåret utesluter inte fler tester. Planen talar därför mot motförslagets krav.
- uncompromising crime preventiondecisive»Kampen mot kriminaliteten ska vara kompromisslös.« (2022 manifesto ↗)“The fight against crime shall be uncompromising.”
- upbringing free from drugs»och till en trygg uppväxt fri från droger och våld.« (party programme ↗)“and to a safe upbringing free from drugs and violence.”
- more tools against crime»Polisen behöver också fler verktyg, som bättre möjligheter till avlyssning och husrannsakan.« (2022 manifesto ↗)“Police also need more tools, such as better opportunities for wiretapping and house searches.”
- equal preventive measures»För varje krona som läggs på fler poliser, ska minst en krona läggas på det förebyggande arbetet.« (2022 manifesto ↗)“For every crown spent on more police, at least one crown shall be spent on preventive work.”
The plan opposes laws that entail disproportionate interference with privacy and wants to shift focus from punishment to care when it comes to abuse.
Plan documents: party programme
Reasoning and quotes
The plan opposes laws that entail disproportionate interference with privacy and wants to shift focus from punishment to care when it comes to abuse. The counter-proposal's line of not expanding compulsory drug testing of children under 15 years, and instead building up preventive support and youth services, follows directly from these commitments. The plan thus supports the demand.
Original (Swedish)
Planen motsätter sig lagar som innebär oproportionerliga ingrepp i integriteten och vill flytta fokus från straff till vård när det gäller missbruk. Motförslagets linje att inte utvidga tvångsvisa drogtester av barn under 15 år, och i stället bygga ut förebyggande stöd och ungdomsmottagningar, följer direkt av dessa åtaganden. Planen stöder därför kravet.
- no disproportionate privacy interferencedecisive»alla lagar som innebär oproportionerliga ingrepp i« (party programme ↗)“all laws that entail disproportionate interference with”
- care before punishment»Den enskildas missbruk är en sjukdom och vi vill se« (party programme ↗)“The individual's substance abuse is a disease and we want to see”
- prevention before coercion»Det brottsförebyggande arbetet är grunden för ett« (party programme ↗)“Crime prevention work is the foundation for a”
- youth services' role»God sexualundervisning i skolan, tillgängliga ungdomsmottagningar« (party programme ↗)“Good sex education in schools, accessible youth services”
The plan takes no explicit position on what the committee actually decided — often because the committee's reason was procedural. The stance is derived and fully cited, but it does not show the party broke a commitment.
The election manifesto explicitly defends the individual's rights against the state and says no to a range of coercive measures such as stop-and-search zones and preventive wiretapping, and the party programme requires that all legislation is tested against privacy with proportionality to the purpose.
Plan documents: 2022 manifesto · party programme
Reasoning and quotes
The election manifesto explicitly defends the individual's rights against the state and says no to a range of coercive measures such as stop-and-search zones and preventive wiretapping, and the party programme requires that all legislation is tested against privacy with proportionality to the purpose. Forced body searches of children under 15 years are such an intrusion. The plan instead favours preventive measures and better support for young people, which is the counter-proposal's alternative.
Original (Swedish)
Valmanifestet försvarar uttryckligen individens rättigheter gentemot staten och säger nej till en rad tvångsmedel som visitationszoner och preventiv avlyssning, och partiprogrammet kräver att all lagstiftning prövas mot integriteten med proportionalitet mot syftet. Tvångsvisa kroppsbesiktningar av barn under 15 år är ett sådant ingrepp. Planen förordar i stället förebyggande insatser och bättre stöd till unga, vilket är motförslagets alternativ.
- no to coercive measuresdecisive»Rättsstaten och individens rättigheter gentemot staten måste försvaras. Vi säger därför nej till visitationszoner, kollektiv bestraffning, omvänd bevisbörda, anonyma vittnen, preventiv avlyssning och inskränkningar av religionsfriheten.« (2022 manifesto ↗)“The rule of law and the individual's rights against the state must be defended. We therefore say no to stop-and-search zones, collective punishment, reversed burden of proof, anonymous witnesses, preventive wiretapping and restrictions on religious freedom.”
- proportionality requirement»Det måste finnas en proportionalitet mellan lagstiftningens inskränkning av medborgarnas integritet och lagarnas syfte.« (party programme ↗)“There must be proportionality between legislation's restriction of citizens' privacy and the law's purpose.”
- privacy review of lawsweak support»All lagstiftning bör prövas mot dess påverkan på människors personliga integritet.« (party programme ↗)“All legislation should be tested against its impact on people's personal privacy.”
- preventive support for young people»Stödet för personer med psykisk ohälsa måste förbättras, inte minst för unga. Den som söker hjälp ska ha en enkel och samlad väg in till vården.« (2022 manifesto ↗)“Support for people with mental illness must be improved, especially for young people. Those seeking help should have an easy and unified path into healthcare.”
flags: citat_svagt
The plan takes no explicit position on what the committee actually decided — often because the committee's reason was procedural. The stance is derived and fully cited, but it does not show the party broke a commitment.
The plan wants society to early be informed about children on the wrong track and makes police report and concern report the main rule in case of suspected criminality, and it establishes zero tolerance against drugs in all respects.
Plan documents: 2022 manifesto · party programme
Reasoning and quotes
The plan wants society to early be informed about children on the wrong track and makes police report and concern report the main rule in case of suspected criminality, and it establishes zero tolerance against drugs in all respects. The counter-proposal's requirement not to allow more drug tests of children under 15 years contradicts this line. The plan's integrity principle allows intervention when an opposing interest weighs considerably heavier, which preventing drug abuse in children does.
Original (Swedish)
Planen vill att samhället tidigt får kännedom om barn på fel väg och gör huvudregel av polis- och orosanmälan vid misstänkt brottslighet, och den slår fast nolltolerans mot narkotika i alla led. Motförslagets krav på att inte tillåta fler drogtester av barn under 15 år går emot denna linje. Planens integritetsprincip tillåter ingrepp när ett motstående intresse väger uppenbart tyngre, vilket att förhindra narkotikamissbruk hos barn gör.
- early detection of children at riskdecisive»För att polis och socialtjänst alltid ska få kännedom om barn som är på fel väg i livet ska huvudregeln bli att skolan alltid gör polisanmälan och orosanmälan vid misstänkt brottslighet.« (2022 manifesto ↗)“In order that police and social services shall always be informed about children who are on the wrong track in life, the main rule shall become that schools always make police reports and concern reports in case of suspected criminality.”
- zero tolerance against drugs»Nolltolerans ska råda mot narkotika i alla led av hanteringen.« (party programme ↗)“Zero tolerance shall prevail against drugs in all respects of handling.”
- early and clear interventions»Tidiga och tydliga insatser för unga brottslingar ökar möjligheten att bryta ett kriminellt beteende.« (party programme ↗)“Early and clear interventions for young criminals increase the opportunity to break criminal behaviour.”
- weighing against integrity intrusion»Åtgärder som påverkar den personliga integriteten negativt är endast berättigade om ett motstående intresse väger uppenbart tyngre och åtgärden är effektiv.« (party programme ↗)“Measures that negatively affect personal integrity are only justified if an opposing interest weighs considerably heavier and the measure is effective.”
The plan explicitly requires strengthened possibilities for social services to take coercive measures against children and young people, and that all crimes are prosecuted effectively with increased detection risk.
Plan documents: 2022 manifesto · party programme
Reasoning and quotes
The plan explicitly requires strengthened possibilities for social services to take coercive measures against children and young people, and that all crimes are prosecuted effectively with increased detection risk. The goal is a drug-free society where all non-medical use is prohibited. The counter-proposal's line of not allowing more drug testing therefore goes against the plan, even though the plan simultaneously wants to prioritize preventive efforts for young people and use coercion restrictively.
Original (Swedish)
Planen kräver uttryckligen stärkta möjligheter för socialtjänsten att vidta tvingande åtgärder gentemot barn och unga, och att alla brott beivras effektivt med ökad upptäcktsrisk. Målet är ett narkotikafritt samhälle där allt ickemedicinskt bruk är förbjudet. Motförslagets linje att inte tillåta fler drogtester går därför emot planen, även om planen samtidigt vill prioritera förebyggande insatser för unga och använda tvång restriktivt.
- coercive measures against young peopledecisive»Stärk sociala insatser och socialtjänstens möjligheter till tvingande åtgärder gentemot barn och unga som begår brott.« (2022 manifesto ↗)“Strengthen social efforts and social services' possibilities for coercive measures against children and young people who commit crimes.”
- all crimes shall be prosecuted»Alla brott ska effektivt och utan undantag beivras« (party programme ↗)“All crimes shall be effectively and without exception prosecuted”
- prevention for children and young people»I det förebyggande arbetet ska insatser för barn och« (party programme ↗)“In preventive work, efforts for children and”
- restrictive use of coercion»Den ska i första hand bygga på frivillighet. Tvångsvård ska användas restriktivt och endast där särskilda« (party programme ↗)“It shall primarily be based on voluntariness. Compulsory care shall be used restrictively and only where special”
The counter-proposal wants to stop expanded drug testing of children under 15 years and settle for preventive support.
Plan documents: 2022 manifesto
Reasoning and quotes
The counter-proposal wants to stop expanded drug testing of children under 15 years and settle for preventive support. The plan's line is the opposite: secrecy barriers between police and social services shall be removed, a no entry programme shall quickly stop a initiated criminal pathway, narcotics police shall be reintroduced and young people who choose the path of crime shall be met with early and clear consequences. The plan does, however, also want to strengthen substance abuse care, which partially meets the proposal's other part.
Original (Swedish)
Motförslaget vill stoppa utökade drogtester av barn under 15 år och nöja sig med förebyggande stöd. Planens linje är den motsatta: sekretesshinder mellan polis och socialtjänst ska bort, ett no entry-program ska snabbt stoppa en påbörjad kriminell bana, narkotikapoliserna återinföras och unga som väljer brottets väg mötas av tidiga och tydliga konsekvenser. Planen vill dock även stärka missbruksvården, vilket delvis möter förslagets andra del.
- early interventions against young peopledecisive»Ta bort sekretesshindren mellan polis och socialtjänst samt inrätta ett nationellt no entry-program för unga i riskzonen i syfte att snabbt stoppa en påbörjad kriminell karriär« (2022 manifesto ↗)“Remove secrecy barriers between police and social services and establish a national no entry programme for young people at risk in order to quickly stop an initiated criminal career”
- early and clear consequences»men att de som ändå väljer den brottsliga vägen ska mötas av tidiga och tydliga konsekvenser« (2022 manifesto ↗)“but those who nonetheless choose the criminal path shall be met with early and clear consequences”
- tougher drug enforcement»Återinföra de specialiserade narkotikapoliserna« (2022 manifesto ↗)“Reintroduce the specialized narcotics police”
- strengthened substance abuse care»Det handlar om över 50 reformer för att stärka socialtjänst, skola och missbruksvård.« (2022 manifesto ↗)“It is about over 50 reforms to strengthen social services, schools and substance abuse care.”
The counter-proposal wants to prevent more drug tests of children under 15 years old by referring to bodily integrity and focus on preventive support instead.
Plan documents: 2022 manifesto
Reasoning and quotes
The counter-proposal wants to prevent more drug tests of children under 15 years old by referring to bodily integrity and focus on preventive support instead. The election manifesto goes in the opposite direction: social services, schools and the legal system should be able to intervene with tougher measures at an early stage, the age of criminal responsibility should be lowered and few measures are considered too far-reaching to push back crime. The plan therefore prioritizes early interventions against young people in risky environments over integrity grounds.
Original (Swedish)
Motförslaget vill förhindra fler drogtester av barn under 15 år med hänvisning till den kroppsliga integriteten och satsa på förebyggande stöd i stället. Valmanifestet går i motsatt riktning: socialtjänst, skola och rättsväsende ska kunna ingripa med tuffare tag i ett tidigt skede, straffmyndighetsåldern ska sänkas och få åtgärder anses för långtgående för att pressa tillbaka kriminaliteten. Planen prioriterar därmed tidiga ingripanden mot unga i riskmiljö framför integritetsskälen.
- early interventions against young peopledecisive»Ge socialtjänst, skola och rättsväsende möjlighet att ingripa med tuffare tag i ett tidigt skede« (2022 manifesto ↗)“Give social services, schools and the legal system the opportunity to intervene with tougher measures at an early stage”
- uncompromising on crime»Sverigedemokraterna anser att få politiska åtgärder är för långtgående när det kommer till att pressa tillbaka både de kriminella gängen« (2022 manifesto ↗)“Sweden-democrats believe that few political measures are too far-reaching when it comes to pushing back both criminal gangs”
- lowered age of criminal responsibility»Sänka straffmyndighetsåldern« (2022 manifesto ↗)“Lower the age of criminal responsibility”
- tools against criminal lifestyle»Polis, socialtjänst och kronofogde ska ges verktyg att statuera exempel och göra den kriminella livsstilen oattraktiv« (2022 manifesto ↗)“Police, social services and the enforcement agency shall be given tools to set examples and make the criminal lifestyle unattractive”
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Sources and documents
- The committee report on riksdagen.se (2022/23:JuU21)
- Committee report full text (HA01JuU21)
- Per-MP voting data (API)
- Case status (API)
Documents under consideration
- Motion 2022/23:2359 — med anledning av prop. 2022/23:78 Förbättrade åtgärder när barn misstänks för brott av Gudrun Nordborg m.fl. (V)
- Motion 2022/23:863 — Rättspolitik av Ulrika Liljeberg m.fl. (C)
- Motion 2022/23:951 — Åtgärder mot unga lagöverträdare av Richard Jomshof m.fl. (SD)
- Proposition 2022/23:78 — Förbättrade åtgärder när barn misstänks för brott
Source: The Swedish Parliament