PS: Penal Code Amendment Won't Be Sufficient to Tackle Rising Crime

Bratislava, 1 December (TASR) - The government's proposed amendment to the Penal Code is insufficient and won't be enough to halt the rise in crime, MP Branislav Vanco (Progressive Slovakia/PS) stated at a press conference on Monday, adding that the government has proposed a return to the so-called 'Horalky clause' [a 'three strikes and you're out' principle - ed.note] to show that it's at least doing something. "When this clause returns, it may help in some cases, but as the causes are much deeper, this amendment is completely insufficient in terms of stopping the rise in crime. And I'm shocked by the approach of both Prime Minister [Robert] Fico and [Justice] Minister [Boris] Susko [both Smer-SD]. They are submitting this bill, this further amendment to the Penal Code, just to show that they are doing something, but they themselves don't believe that it will help, and they're right," said Vanco. According to the MP, the problem is far from being limited to petty theft amounting to €700 in damages. He pointed to the increase in burglaries when compared to last year. "Last year, there were 2,400 burglaries over the whole year, but now, in the first nine months of 2025, there have been more than 3,000 already, 600 extra burglaries," he said. The damage caused by economic crimes has increased by 126 percent when compared to last year. "As for damages resulting from tax evasion, the increase compared to last year is as high as 360 percent. And all this is due to changes in the Penal Code, which were forcibly and hastily approved by this governing coalition almost two years ago," he stated. On Monday afternoon, Parliament began debating the government's proposal for a fast-tracked legislative procedure for the amendment to the Penal Code drafted by Justice Minister Susko. The amendment would reintroduce the 'three strikes and you're out' rule. This would make repeat offenders liable to prosecution. Offenders would be punished with imprisonment of up to two years after committing a similar property offence three times within one year. am/df