Sweden to allow anonymous witnesses to rein in gang violence

Sweden has struggled to contain a surge in violence in recent years as criminal gangs feud for control of drug markets, with bombings and shootings occurring weekly.

In 2023, police recorded 363 shootings with 53 deaths and 149 bombings, most of them the result of gang violence, in the Nordic country of 10.5 million inhabitants.

"Criminal gangs threaten and silence witnesses. This means that many criminal investigations involving criminal networks are difficult to solve," Justice Minister Gunnar Strommer said in a statement.

"The culture of silence must be broken and witness protection strengthened," he said.

To hear anonymous testimony, there will need to be a "tangible risk" that witnesses or their relatives could be the victim of a serious crime, the government said.

The alleged crime they are testifying over also needs to carry a sentence of at least two years. Granting anonymity also must be weighed against the accused's ability to prepare a legal defence.

A proposal to allow anonymous witnesses was a pledge by conservative Prime Minister Ulf Kristersson when he came to power in 2022 with a minority coalition government propped up by the anti-immigration Sweden Democrats, with a vow to get tough on immigration and crime.

The proposal has come under criticism, including by Sweden's Council on Legislation, which scrutinises bills the government intends to put before parliament.

In May, the council recommended against the proposal and said it found the benefit of such a system to likely be "very limited", which should be weighed against the legal concerns.

Strommer told a press conference that the bill had been adjusted to address some of the council's concerns.

The government said it aims to have the new law in force on January 1, 2025.

ALSO READ: