Country

Denmark

Detention issue

FRA research findings

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Legal instruments & key provisions

Legal instrument Key provision
Criminal Enforcement Act Section 62Security in the Prison and Probation Service institutions is based on a static security approach (walls, locks and CCTV in the common areas and outdoors) and a relational approach focusing on constructive interaction between prison guards and inmates in order to prevent threats and violence. The Prison and Probation Service may use force if it is necessary and proportionate, inter alia, to avert threatening violence, to overcome violent resistance or to prevent suicide or other self-harm.

NATIONAL PREVENTIVE MECHANISM RECOMMENDATIONS

Year Recommendation Report
2017NPM visited the closed prison facility ‘Sønder Omme Fængsel’ and recommended that management should, in cooperation with the health care staff, seek to identify dark figures in relation to threats and violence amongst prisoners. Report details
2018On a visit to Nyborg Prison (Nyborg fængsel) on 14 to 15 May 2018, the NPM recommended among others, that management ensures that there is systematic registration of violence and threats between patients for the purpose of documentation, knowledge and learning. Report details
2018The Danish NPM visited the prison facility in Nr. Snede Prison (Nr. Snede Fængsel) on 7 and 8 June 2018. The NPM recommended among others that the management of the facility should consider that the management and area of the prison and probation service should develop a policy on violence on a district level. Report details
2021The NPM recommended, among others, that the management of the facility should consider the following, ’[t]hat the management ensures that a policy on handling violence and threats between inmates is drawn up, covering, among other things, registration and follow-up on incidents, including follow-up on non-concretised information about threats and violence between inmates.’ Report details