The Ministry of Interior is taking urgent measures to address the escalating aggression exercised by youth groups in the capital. Since the beginning of the year, 37 cases of harassment and violence have been registered, and the police have managed to identify and detain the perpetrators in 33 of them. This was announced by the Minister of Interior, Daniel Mitov, during parliamentary control, where he was answering a question posed by MP Elisaveta Belobradova regarding the manifestations of the so-called "lokalni".
The question from the MP at the parliamentary rostrum, to which Mitov gave detailed explanations, raised important issues about the legal framework and the effectiveness of institutions in the fight against juvenile delinquency.
The Minister emphasized that after an investigation of every reported case of injured persons, the files are immediately sent to the prosecutor's office for further action. He specified that in cases where the perpetrators are minors or adolescents, educational measures are applied, according to Article 32 of the Penal Code. These measures are imposed by the local commissions for the fight against juvenile delinquency, which operate under the municipal administrations.
Daniel Mitov explained that the efforts of the Ministry of Interior's staff are directed towards both prevention and counteraction to the behavior of problematic youths. This includes identifying and monitoring the individuals, establishing their identity, and gathering information about the structure and activities of their groups. At the same time, inspectors from the children's pedagogical rooms are actively working with all identified children - both perpetrators and victims. Individual conversations are held with them and their parents, with serious attention paid to the possible consequences of participating in street groups and committing offenses. According to data from the Sofia Directorate of the Interior, between 70 and 80% of the minors and adolescents who commit such acts in Sofia are already known to law enforcement.
The Minister gave a critical assessment of the existing legal framework, describing it as outdated and inadequate for modern challenges. He stated that the 1958 legislation often leaves the Ministry of Interior "with tied hands" when dealing with juvenile crime. In response to this problem, the Ministry is actively participating in the preparation of an entirely new law on juvenile justice. For this purpose, an interdepartmental working group has been created, whose task is to analyze international standards and good practices to propose effective legislative changes.
The increasing public pressure to deal with youth aggression, especially in shopping malls, has led to the creation of a permanent inter-institutional working group. This group is focused on the problems of violence by and against children in public places and commercial establishments. As part of an already approved action plan, the Sofia Directorate of the Interior is conducting specialized police operations in the capital. For the period from May 28 to September 8, a total of 10,496 people were checked, of which 3,768 were minors. As a result of the checks, 71 prohibited items were found, 103 administrative offense acts were drawn up, and 71 warning protocols were issued, and 57 people were detained.
Minister Mitov emphasized that the term "lokalni" represents a colloquial and media concept used to designate youths associated with football mobs or specific fan groups. Despite its widespread use in the public space, he explicitly stated that the term has no legal definition in Bulgarian legislation. According to him, the use of unclear and emotionally charged terms in the application of criminal law is unacceptable. He pointed out that each case should be considered individually, and when determining the punishment, the specific facts should be taken into account, not stereotypes or suggestions of group affiliation.
Since the beginning of the year, more than 900 preventive conversations have been held with minors and adolescents. Inspectors from the children's pedagogical rooms at the district departments of the Sofia Directorate of the Interior are working with all identified children, including those who are registered, to explain the consequences of offenses.