Denmark is taking steps to prevent the spread of gang violence from neighboring Sweden.
Denmark will enhance border controls with Sweden following a recent surge in gang violence that has extended into the country. The Danish justice ministry announced that police will increase scrutiny of trains crossing the Oresund Strait, which connects Malmo, Sweden, to Copenhagen, Denmark, and is the primary crossing point between the two nations. Camera surveillance will also be intensified.
“We are increasing surveillance, partly to enhance security but also to prevent the recruitment of Swedish child soldiers who come to Copenhagen to carry out tasks related to gang conflicts,” Denmark’s justice minister, Peter Hummelgaard, stated on Friday, as reported by various media outlets.
The minister revealed this week that there have been 25 incidents since April where Danish criminal gangs have hired what he described as “child soldiers” to commit crimes in Denmark. He added that three shootings have been linked to Swedish teenagers in the past two weeks alone.
“Now we are taking stricter measures, including strengthening efforts at the border with Sweden,” Hummelgaard said.
Sweden has been grappling with a rising tide of gang-related shootings and bombings in recent years. According to a Financial Times report, citing Swedish police, powerful criminal gangs frequently use children to carry out murders, as they would receive lighter sentences if convicted.
Hummelgaard referred to it as “a frightening phenomenon” that Danish gangs were employing young Swedes to do “their dirty work.”
Denmark has adopted a tougher stance on immigration and dealing with criminal gangs than its neighboring country. Measures implemented include the forced relocation of non-Danes from areas where they are in the majority and the doubling of penalties for crimes.
The justice ministry also stated that it is strengthening intelligence collaboration with Sweden by permanently stationing an officer with Stockholm police and expanding officer exchanges with law enforcement in southern Sweden. According to the ministry, face-recognition technology could potentially be utilized for very serious crimes, such as attempted murder.