Sweden boosts justice system spending to fight crime By Reuters

STOCKHOLM (Reuters) – Sweden will increase spending on its justice system by 3.46 billion kroner ($335 million) in the 2025 budget bill to reduce high crime rates, the justice minister said on Wednesday.

Including previously decided measures and other cost increases, the budget of the justice system will increase by 8 billion kroner, or 10% year-on-year, to 86.7 billion kroner in 2025.

Sweden has been rocked by gang violence, often involving minors, over the past decade and has the highest rate of violence per capita in the European Union.

Justice Minister Gunnar Strommer told a news conference that although shootings linked to organized crime so far this year were fewer than in the same period in 2023, there was a risk of further spirals of violence.

“Things are still bubbling under the surface,” he said.

“We aim to restore security in Sweden for all honest citizens. This involves mainly three things: cracking down on serious violence, stopping the criminal economy and stopping the recruitment of children and young people into gangs.”

Strommer said the government plans to increase spending on the justice system to 100 billion kroner in 2027, up from 69 billion in 2023.

The center-right governing coalition, which relies on the support of the far-right Sweden Democrats, is due to present the 2025 budget bill to parliament on September 19.

($1 = 10.3381 Swedish kronor)