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A ban on begging will be investigated in Sweden – to stop EU citizens

by AI | 01.Oct 2024 | Europe in brief AI

The Swedish legislation regarding begging is to be reviewed. An investigator will, upon the government’s request, propose a ban – to prevent EU citizens from begging.

Beggar in central Stockholm. Photo: Fredrik Sandberg/TT

Stockholm – The right-wing government in Sweden and the supporting party Sweden Democrats believe that the legislation regarding begging needs to be reviewed. An investigator will now propose that begging be banned at the national level.

“Begging has since been rare in Sweden until the early 2010s when many EU citizens from other countries came to Sweden to beg,” says Linda Lindberg, group leader in the parliament for the Sweden Democrats, at a press conference.

“What we saw was no longer individual needy people asking for help, but we saw a more systematic and well-thought-out approach to support criminality.”

A small number of municipalities have already introduced local begging bans, but the government believes these can be difficult to achieve.

A national begging ban was one of the Sweden Democrats’ election promises. But the investigation has taken time to appoint. Whether it will actually result in a ban being implemented is also unclear. The assignment must be reported no later than June 2025.

(September 30)