Justice Minister Brian Mikkelsen has presented the government’s proposals to curb the ongoing gang war, which has resulted in a spate of shootings in the capital Copenhagen.

“The current situation is unacceptable,” Mikkelsen says in presenting a package which doubles the sentence on crimes such as violence, murder and weapons possession if they are gang-related.

The package also calls for foreigners caught with illegal weapons to be extradited, and sentences for witness tampering to be doubled.

Sentences for preventing fire and rescue services from doing their jobs are also to be increased, and more police officers are to be sent out on patrol.

A first illegal weapons possession offence will cost one year in prison while a second offence will cost two years. Police authorities will also be able to introduce exclusion zones which certain individuals or groups may not enter.

The proposals are to be put before parliament at the earliest opportunity, and are expected to pass into law during the spring.