Sweden plans electronic bracelets to monitor children at risk of gang recruitment

Published on 07/05/2026 - 17:14 GMT+2

Sweden said connected Thursday that it planned to present physics bracelets to show children astatine hazard of being recruited by transgression gangs, the government's latest measurement aimed astatine cracking down connected deadly pack violence.

Authorities would beryllium capable to delegate the bracelets to children and youths aged 13 and up, the authorities said, estimating that astir 50 to 100 youths would beryllium monitored to guarantee they were respecting curfews decided by societal services.

Criminal gangs successful Sweden progressively enlistee children and youths to perpetrate murders and different convulsive acts, knowing they volition not look situation clip if caught arsenic the property of transgression work has until present been 15.

As of 1 July, the property volition beryllium reduced to 13, for crimes punishable by astatine slightest 4 years successful prison.

The physics bracelet would beryllium designed to look "like a ticker oregon bracelet, truthful it wouldn't beryllium arsenic evident oregon stigmatising" arsenic an ankle bracelet utilized for convicted criminals, Social Services Minister Camilla Waltersson Gronvall told reporters.

She said determination were "173 children nether the property of 15 suspected of being progressive successful murders oregon execution plots."

In addition, determination were 52 alleged evidentiary proceedings against children past year, a ineligible process wherever a tribunal decides if a kid nether the property of transgression work is guilty, but the kid is not punished.

The physics bracelet connection has faced disapproval from children's rights organisations, Sweden's National Council for Crime Prevention, and UNICEF, who person each expressed concerns astir children's civilian liberties.

Swedish constabulary person since October 2025 been allowed to wiretap physics communications of children nether the property of 15.

"When children are astatine hazard of falling into the clutches of superior criminals, we indispensable person much tools to support them," Waltersson Gronvall said successful a statement.

"Electronic monitoring should beryllium usable successful superior situations, successful bid to interruption a destructive signifier successful clip and warrant the child's safety," she said.

Sweden's number right-wing government, propped up by the far-right Sweden Democrats, has been pushing done a rash of proposals aimed astatine curbing transgression and migration successful the run-up to the wide predetermination connected 13 September.