Every sixth asylum seeker has run-ins with the law

Poverty and organised crime result in charges against many of those trying to get into the country

One out of every six of the country's asylum seekers came under police scrutiny in 2012. According to a parliamentary report given by the justice minister, Morten Bødskov (Socialdemokraterne), 1,767 of the country’s 10,500 asylum seekers were investigated for criminal activity last year.

The heads of several asylum centres blamed poverty for forcing residents into crime. One mentioned a mother living in the Hanstholm centre who was arrested for stealing clothing for her children.

Centres are also reporting problems with more organised crime, especially among residents from Africa or former Eastern Bloc countries. One centre in northern Jutland said that some residents from former Soviet countries “systematically steal everything they can, knowing that the consequences are few and easily managed".

In one case, asylum seekers from Georgia living in a centre in Thy in the northwest part of Jutland tried to send 18 kilos worth of stolen goods back to their former homeland. In another case, a group from the Balkans is charged with 70 burglaries and two home robberies. Drug crimes are also reported to be rampant in some centres.

Long waits cause crime
Dansk Flygtningehjælp, the national refugee council, said that although it considers crime unacceptable, many seekers come here from countries where the social structure has broken down and crime is common. They also said that long waits in asylum centres can drive some applicants to break the law.

"The more degrading your situation, the more likely you are to break the law,” council head Eva Singer told Jyllands-Posten newspaper.

Venstre spokesperson Karsten Lauritzen wants to see criminality among the asylum seekers reduced.

“If they can send a bag of loot home, I am not sure how they are being persecuted,” he said.

Tougher penalties
Last year's numbers were similar to those in 2011. Only ten percent of asylum seekers charged in 2011 actually received a sentence or fine for committing a crime. The Justice Ministry did not release figures on how many of the 2012 charges resulted in sentencing. 

Bødskov said that the government has already launched a series of initiatives to combat the problem, including increased policing and deportation of offenders.

TOP STORIES

  • Nørrebro: A battle between identities

    Nørrebro: A battle between identities

    Nørrebro is a cornerstone of the city of Copenhagen. However, while it continues to be a popular hang out spot for young and old alike, the neighborhood is in the middle of a transformation from the old working class population, to a younger and more economically stable clientele. This fact raises concern among native Nørrebro-citizens.

  • Copenhagen celebrates St. Patrick’s Day with a grand 20th anniversary parade

    Copenhagen celebrates St. Patrick’s Day with a grand 20th anniversary parade

    The Irish Culture Association Denmark (ICAD) is celebrating St. Patrick’s Day in Copenhagen on March 16, 2025, with a parade marking its 20th anniversary. Supported by the Irish Embassy, the event will feature Irish music, dance, sports, and cultural displays, bringing the spirit of Ireland to Denmark.

  • Trump: Greenlandic annexation “will happen.” Greenlandic PM: “Enough is enough”

    Trump: Greenlandic annexation “will happen.” Greenlandic PM: “Enough is enough”

    Yesterday, the President of the United States made some of the strongest statements about Greenland he has ever made during the press conference with NATO Secretary General Mark Rutte.

  • Copenhagen revisited through memoir poetry

    Copenhagen revisited through memoir poetry

    Not all students feel like reading Danish poetry after a meeting at a language school with writer and poet Henrik Palle. Yet, a portrayal of Copenhagen as the city once was and the impressions of what the city is today give a deeper impression of the Danes

  • A book to make Danish idioms easier to understand

    A book to make Danish idioms easier to understand

    It’s difficult to learn Danish, especially with idioms that have figurative meanings. It highlights Christiane Bjørg Nielsen’s book, See What You Say, which serves as a visual guide to understanding these idiomatic expressions in Danish.

  • Raise the voice of internationals. Take the survey and share your experience in Denmark.

    Raise the voice of internationals. Take the survey and share your experience in Denmark.

    Copenhagen Capacity has launched a survey for all internationals living in Denmark to find out if they are happy here and what challenges they face. The Copenhagen Post is the media partner for this initiative. You can find the survey below in the article.

Connect club

Connect Club is your gateway to a vibrant programme of events and an international community in Denmark.

Sign up here

Career

  • Copenhagen ranked 4th for career growth

    Copenhagen ranked 4th for career growth

    Copenhagen is ranked as the fourth-best city in the world for career growth, according to an analysis by EnjoyTravel. This ranking considers various factors such as living costs, salary levels, workforce availability, and overall quality of life. Copenhagen is noted for its blend of historical and modern elements, particularly in the green energy sector, which influences job opportunities.

  • Data shows that non-Western immigrants have saved local economies in Denmark

    Data shows that non-Western immigrants have saved local economies in Denmark

    A study reveals how only the massive influx of non-Western immigrants has saved many areas in Denmark from a decline in the workforce and a consequently shrinking economy

  • Long-term unemployment is double for non-Western immigrants

    Long-term unemployment is double for non-Western immigrants

    An analysis from the Labour Movement’s Business Council shows that the rate in long-term unemployment for non-Western immigrants is 1.8 times higher than for Danes. In other words, a chronic unemployment situation is way more probable for non-Western internationals.

Want to advertise your job with CPH Post?

Contact us

Jobs