Sweden Democrats Propose Criminalizing Gang Membership with Deportations and Life Imprisonment

The Sweden Democrats (SD) have unveiled a legislative proposal targeting gang crime by criminalizing gang membership and calling for the imprisonment or deportation of all gang criminals. Party spokesperson Henrik Vinge, who also chairs the justice committee, announced that those with dual citizenship involved in gangs could be deported, potentially affecting around 3,000 individuals, while Swedish citizens engaged in gang activities may face imprisonment, with maximum sentences possibly extending to life imprisonment.

According to police statistics from autumn, there are approximately 17,500 active gang criminals in Sweden, of whom 8% have dual citizenship and 11% foreign citizenship. SD's proposal includes establishing a new criminal offense called "participation in a criminal association," which carries up to life imprisonment and may also lead to revocation of citizenship for qualifying offenders.

The party intends to present their initiative during an upcoming meeting with Justice Minister Gunnar Strömmer and other parliamentary representatives. This meeting follows a call from Social Democrat leader Magdalena Andersson for a decade-long pact against gang violence. The proposal aims to allow prosecution solely based on gang membership, without the need to link individuals to specific criminal acts, marking a significant shift akin to Italian mafia legislation.

These proposals form a core part of the Sweden Democrats’ campaign strategy ahead of the 2026 elections. Vinge framed the measures as the "single most powerful" legal action possible within Sweden's rule of law framework.

SD’s initiative also aligns with recent constitutional amendments introduced by the Tidö parties, permitting revocation of citizenship for gang criminals harming Sweden’s "vital interests," expected to take effect in January 2027. Additionally, the government and SD have proposed restrictions on the constitutional freedom of association, enabling criminalization of participation in economically motivated criminal groups.

The proposal reflects heightened political urgency to address gang-related violence following high-profile incidents, underscoring a broader governmental push to dismantle organized crime networks through rigorous legal reforms.