Danish state auditors issue sharp criticism of police over case handling

Denmark’s national auditors have delivered a scathing assessment of police practices, accusing officers of undermining public trust by improperly dismissing criminal cases, national broadcaster DR reports.

The State Auditors described the police handling of investigations as “highly unsatisfactory,” singling out cases involving child abuse where budget constraints allegedly influenced whether probes were launched. At Midt- and Vestsjællands Police, guidelines reportedly required officers to consider financial limitations before pursuing abuse allegations.

The police district has denied that economic factors played a role in case decisions but confirmed it has since revised its internal policies. The auditors’ report framed the practice—referred to as the police “washing” cases—as a breach of trust between citizens and law enforcement.