The number of crimes in Copenhagen involving knives has more than doubled in the past five years. In 2010, there were 56 cases of violence involving a knife. In 2015, that number had risen to 149.
“We have seen a trend in which people are reaching for a knife more quickly during a conflict,” Jakob Vilner, a deputy inspector at Copenhagen Police, told Metroxpress.
Vilner noted that while knife violence in Copenhagen Municipality has risen, attacks in the city centre have fallen thanks to the ‘Trygt natteliv’ (safe nightlife) campaign.
New laws
The campaign includes a more visible police presence on the streets during the evening and nighttime hours at weekends.
“This year, we have an objective to reduce the number of cases by another 10 percent,” said Vilner. “We believe that our increased presence in busy places has had a preventative effect and created a sense of security.”
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A new law concerning knives comes into effect on July 1. Among other things, it includes a provision to raise penalties for previous offenders found with a knife in public.
“Hopefully it can help to make people think twice about carrying a knife a second time,” said Vilner.
