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POLICY TOPIC

Law & Justice

Overall crime levels are falling, but new patterns -- particularly a sharp rise in shoplifting -- and public perceptions of safety are central criminal-justice issues.

SUMMARY

Overall crime levels are falling, but new patterns -- particularly a sharp rise in shoplifting -- and public perceptions of safety are central criminal-justice issues. Criminal-code offences with verdict (2024): 45,615 (Danmarks Statistik 2024). Citizens who feel safe in their neighbourhood (2024): 88% (Justitsministeriets Tryghedsundersøgelse 2024).

KEY FIGURES

45,615
Criminal-code offences with verdict (2024)
88%
Citizens who feel safe in their neighbourhood (2024)
55%
Satisfaction with police case handling (2024)

See statistics in the charts below ↓

EVIDENCE BASE

The total number of criminal-code offences with a verdict fell 8.8% from 2023 to 2024 -- from 50,008 to 45,615 cases.

88% of Danes feel fundamentally safe in their neighbourhood (2024). In particularly vulnerable housing areas the figure is only 70%.

Registered shoplifting offences rose 131% from 2019 to 2024 according to Crimestat data from the retail industry.

The effect of longer sentences on crime prevention is limited according to criminological research; social and preventive interventions have stronger evidence.

STATISTICS AND DATA

Criminal-code offences with verdict (thousands)
020406056 tusinde54 tusinde52 tusinde51 tusinde50 tusinde46 tusinde201920202021202220232024
CONTEXTThe chart shows verdicts (convictions and fine orders) for criminal-code offences -- i.e. cases that have been resolved, not merely reported. The figures do not necessarily reflect actual crime levels, as reporting behaviour, police priorities and court capacity all affect the number of verdicts. The decline in 2024 continues a multi-year trend. Shoplifting (13,997 in 2024) is the single largest category and rose 4% from 2023.
Shoplifting -- indexed trend (2019 = 100)
050100150200250100 indeks95 indeks120 indeks160 indeks210 indeks231 indeks201920202021202220232024
CONTEXTShoplifting offences recorded by the retail industry via the Crimestat system have risen sharply since 2020. The 131% increase from 2019 to 2024 (first half) is seen across the entire sector and is not confined to particular areas. The causes are debated: organised professional crime, social factors and a lower risk of detection are all cited. The total number of recorded shoplifting offences in the first half of 2024 exceeded 10,000. The figures come from the industry's own reports and may differ from police statistics.

PARTY POSITIONS

Importance shows how central this topic is to each party's platform.

Relevant

Wants to strengthen the police and ensure effective law enforcement combined with social prevention programmes.

Relevant

Wants to increase sentences and give the police better tools for investigation and prosecution.

Important

Wants a harder line on crime, including lowering the age of criminal responsibility.

Secondary

Prioritises prevention and social intervention over punishment. Rehabilitation over long prison sentences.

Relevant

Strongly focused on law and order. Wants faster prosecution and harsher sentences for violence and gang crime.

Secondary

Believes criminal justice policy should be effective and evidence-based, not symbolic politics.

Important

Wants to increase sentences significantly and give the police better resources and powers.

Secondary

Wants to replace imprisonment with social solutions and decriminalise possession of drugs for personal use.

Secondary

Wants criminal justice policy based on evidence and prevention rather than reactive sentencing increases.

Important

Wants significantly higher sentences, particularly for gang and violent crime, and more officers on the streets.

Secondary

Believes crime is best tackled through social prevention, not harsher sentences.

Important

Wants to strengthen citizens' legal protections and increase sentences for violent crime.

SOURCES

[K1]Danmarks Statistik: Domme for kriminalitet 2024: Det samlede antal straffelovsovertrædelser med afgørelse faldt 8,8 % fra 2023 ti…
[K2]Justitsministeriets Tryghedsundersøgelse 2024: 88 % af danskerne føler sig grundlæggende trygge i deres nabolag (2024). I særli…
[K3]Dansk Erhverv: Kriminalitet i detailhandlen, august 2024: Registrerede butikstyverier steg 131 % fra 2019 til 2024 ifølge Crimestat-data f…
[K4]Nordisk kriminologisk forskning / NSFK: Effekten af længere straffe på kriminalitetsforebyggelse er begrænset ifølge kri…
[S1]Danmarks Statistik 2024: Straffelovsovertrædelser med afgørelse (2024): 45.615
[S2]Justitsministeriets Tryghedsundersøgelse 2024: Borgere der føler sig trygge i nabolaget (2024): 88 %
[S3]Rigspolitiet 2025: Tilfredshed med politiets sagshåndtering (2024): 55 %
[P]DanPol: Party positions based on official party programmes and public statements.
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