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March 15th, 2013

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New police statistics show that the number of reported crimes has decreased considerably since 2007.

A total of 365,504 crimes were reported in 2007 and though that number increased in the following two years, it started decreasing in 2010 and by 2012 was down to 364,386. The drop from 2011 to 2012 was a 6.6 percent decrease, and although 2013 has only just started, it looks to be off to a good start for the police. Reported crimes in January were at 28,896, a 12 percent fall from the 33,009 crimes reported in January 2012.

Of the January 2013 reported crimes, 29 percent of them have resulted in criminal charges. In 2012, a total of 108,477 people were charged, which amounts to 29.8 percent of all reported crimes.

According to Carsten Andersen of the national police organisation, Rigspolitiet, most murder cases are solved and this is partly due to the fact that people have become more co-operative and better at contacting the police when they have information about a crime. He was satisfied with the decreasing crime rates and said that the police are now even more determined to work for less crime in Denmark.

“We are pleased with the statistics and we will keep on fighting to keep the crime rates low. It is a tough job but it definitely pays off,” said Andersen.

He said, however, that the credit for the decrease shouldn't go solely to the police.

“Our most important job is to prevent crimes from happening and this we do in co-operation with the councils,” he said.

The justice minister, Morten Bødskov (Socialdemokraterne), was also happy to see the drop in crime rates and said he hopes that the pattern will continue.

“It is pleasing to see that the crime rate is generally decreasing. This development is going in the right direction and we can conclude that violence, burglary and violent crime rates are declining. But it is obvious that this trend only continues if we keep pushing the criminals and give the police space to carry out their important job,” said Bødskov.