site.btaInterior Ministry Call for More Legislative Tools against Young Offenders

The Ministry of Interior needs more effective legislative tools to better combat both the so-called “local” gangs and juvenile crime overall, Interior Minister Daniel Mitov said Friday during parliamentary control, responding to questions about rising juvenile delinquency in Sofia and the Ministry’s prevention measures. 

Concerns have recently been escalating about juvenile delinquency increasing in Sofia and some other parts of Bulgaria, often involving petty crimes, vandalism, and sometimes more serious violence by minors or teenagers.

According to the Sofia Directorate of Interior, 70-80% of adults and minors committing such offences in Sofia are known to the police. However, officers often find themselves limited by outdated legislation, as the current law on antisocial acts by minors dates back to 1958 and does not reflect today’s realities, the Minister explained.

Mitov announced that the Ministry is actively preparing a new juvenile justice law through an interagency working group tasked with reviewing current regulations, international standards, and best practices to propose necessary reforms.

The Ministry also runs two national prevention programs targeting school-aged children: “Police Work in Schools” (launched in 2000) and the “Children’s Police Department” (since 2016). Inspectors regularly visit schools to engage with students, parents, and teachers as part of these efforts.

Regarding recent actions by the Sofia Directorate of Interior, specialized police operations between May 28 and July 6 led to checks on 5,385 individuals, including 2,534 minors, and resulted in the seizure of 57 prohibited items, 46 administrative violation reports, 41 warning protocols, and 33 detentions.

To address violence by and against minors in Sofia’s shopping centers, a permanent inter-institutional working group has been established, along with a plan for targeted measures.