Published 30 September 2024 at 17.40
Domestic. The government and the Sweden Democrats are proceeding with the proposal to investigate a national ban on begging. But several L members have already made it clear that they intend to vote no to such a ban.
Share the article
TwittraShare
The investigation is to be led by former Court of Appeal lawyer Krister Thelin , who has been tasked with proposing how a nationwide ban on begging can be designed.
In addition to the ban itself, the investigation must also examine how such legislation can be balanced against so-called human rights and international conventions. The investigator must report on his work no later than June 26, 2025.
— Anyone who comes to Sweden for the purpose of begging usually ends up in a very vulnerable situation. We have also seen links to organized crime and human trafficking. In light of the limitations found in today's regulations, the government believes that there are reasons to investigate whether the current system works well or whether there are reasons to expand the possibilities to counteract begging and that people are doing badly in Sweden, says Minister of Justice Gunnar Strömmer (M) .
A national ban on begging was an election promise from the Sweden Democrats, who welcome the investigation.
— In our opinion, it is not reasonable that people travel across half of Europe to beg outside our shops, says the party's group leader, Linda Lindberg, to SVT.
However, the liberals are skeptical and several of the party's members have expressed that they would vote no to a national ban. One of them, Anna Starbrink, tells SVT today that she stands by this.