Justice Minister Peter Hummelgaard (S) aims to impose harsher penalties on young criminals for hire. Criminologist David Sausdal calls for greater focus on who the young people involved in hired crime are.

Expert: Major proposal against hired criminals risks missing the mark

Two teenage Swedes told Politiken in 2025 that they engage in hired crime such as bombings, punishments, and drug trafficking. Arkivfoto: Mads Nissen
Two teenage Swedes told Politiken in 2025 that they engage in hired crime such as bombings, punishments, and drug trafficking. Arkivfoto: Mads Nissen
Listen to the article

Punishments should be severe and uncompromising when teenagers are hired for criminal activities or attempt to recruit other young people for missions such as murder in Copenhagen.

With a series of new initiatives, the Danish government aims to impose harsh penalties and improve the ability to prosecute the typically younger individuals who often carry out the so-called crime on demand, also known as crime as a service.

Want to keep reading?

Politiken Edition is a curated collection of articles written by our journalists and translated into English. Stay informed on the news – through a Danish lens.

Subscribe now
Already a subscriber? Sign in
Briller

© All material on this page is subject to the applicable copyright law.Read policy