The Riksdag lowers the age of criminal responsibility to 14

Parliament voted on Thursday to lower the age of criminal responsibility from 15 to 14, by 281 votes to 66, with the Social Democrats voting in favour. The government originally wanted 13 but withdrew that proposal in June for want of a majority and after most of the 126 bodies consulted, including the police and the prison and probation service, opposed it. Parliament also cut the sentencing discount for young offenders, so that someone under 18 can now be jailed for up to 18 years, and the law takes effect on 10 September, three days before the election.

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