Denmark: Sweden's failed migration policy is to blame for exported crime ━ The European Conservative

Danish politicians have had enough of the gang violence spilling over from Sweden – and they are clear about what they see as the cause of it.

Ten years after then-Prime Minister Fredrik Reinfelt (Moderate) called on Swedes in a speech to “open their hearts” to migrants, Denmark is suffering the consequences of its neighbour's liberal immigration policy. A week ago, Denmark introduced border controls for trains travelling over the Øresund Bridge following two shootings and a bomb attack involving Swedish perpetrators. On Wednesday, another Swedish citizen was arrested in the Danish capital carrying two hand grenades.

“Sweden is a frightening example of what happens when too little attention is paid to immigration and law enforcement policy,” said Danish MP Preben Bang Henriksen. Aftonbladet“Neither the conservative nor the social democratic government have addressed the problem,”

“The reality at the moment is that not only Denmark but large parts of the Nordic countries are feeling the consequences of Sweden's long-standing failed immigration and legal policy, and we take this extremely seriously,” Danish Justice Minister Peter Hummelgaard told the media this week.

For decades, Sweden had the most generous immigration policy in Western Europe – something that only changed when the center-right government, supported by the Sweden Democrats, came to power in 2022. The country has welcomed over 2 million migrants since the turn of the century. Of Sweden's 10 million inhabitants, 20% were born abroad. While the tide seems to have turned, with the country now experiencing net emigration, imported organized crime remains.

The lack of control over migration has led to a shocking rise in violent crime in the once homogeneous and peaceful Scandinavian country. As we previously reported, Sweden has the highest per capita rate of gun violence in the European Union. Last year there were 363 fatal shootings – compared to six in the other three Nordic countries combined.

The fact that criminal conflicts spill over into Denmark is nothing new. In the 1990s, criminal motorcycle gangs crossed the strait and engaged in fierce turf wars. But the situation today is different, emphasise Danish politicians: “The fact that Swedish child soldiers are now coming to Denmark and shooting on our streets is a completely new problem that we take very seriously,” said Danish MP Bjørn Brandenborg.

“Criminal groups in Denmark have hired Swedish child soldiers – that's what I call them – to carry out criminal activities,” Hummelgaard said at a press conference on Monday. Denmark has dealt with 25 such cases since April, he said.

Hummelgaard has turned to the Swedish media to convey another message – not to politicians, but to potential criminals from the two cross-strait countries: the Danish justice system imposes harsher penalties and has a higher conviction rate than the Swedish one.

“And you don’t get away with it just because you’re a minor,” he said.

Last year, Sweden criminalized the involvement of people under 18 in criminal activities. But more needs to be done on the legal side, says Hummelgaard. Sweden, for example, has no equivalent to Denmark's Bandepack (Gang Package) – an automatic doubling of the sentence for crimes committed in connection with a gang.

“I firmly believe that harsh punishments are necessary when someone commits serious crimes, even at a young age,” Hummelgard said.

Denmark has also successfully used other means to combat criminality among young migrants. A conviction for a crime can lead to the deportation of the immigrant's entire family. “It's about making life as difficult as possible for criminals,” he said.

Sweden's Justice Minister Gunnar Strömmer sees part of the responsibility with the Danish gangs that hire young contract killers, but admits that his country must also bear part of the burden.

“That is also why we are now changing our policy more broadly, and we are doing this largely following the example of Denmark,” he said. “In practice, we are now implementing the Danish gang packages.”

Strömmer will meet with his Danish counterpart in Copenhagen next week to discuss increased cooperation between the two countries' law enforcement agencies. A joint force in Stockholm, including Finnish and Norwegian law enforcement agencies, is already being prepared.

“I am aware that something has started to move in Sweden and I respect that a long democratic process is underway there,” said Hummelgaard. “But I do not want to hide the fact that Sweden has been warned about this for many years.”