Violence and threats against prison staff in Denmark nearly halved in eight years

Violence and threats against staff in Danish prisons have dropped sharply, with 361 incidents reported in 2025, down 47 percent from 679 in 2017, according to figures from national broadcaster DR.

In 2025, prisons recorded 241 threats and 120 violent incidents. Ina Eliasen, director of Denmark’s Prison Service, called the decline significant after years of effort to reduce such cases.

“Every reduction in these numbers matters. We’ve worked hard for many years to bring them down, so it’s very encouraging to see another drop this year,” Eliasen said.

Bo Yde Sørensen, chair of the Prison Officers’ Union, also welcomed the trend, stating in a press release: “There’s no doubt we’re seeing positive progress on violence and threats. The union is very satisfied with this development.”

The decrease comes despite a 23 percent rise in the average inmate population since 2017. Prison authorities attribute the improvement to a decade-long push, including a zero-tolerance policy—every incident is reported to police—and a focus on prevention, such as conflict de-escalation training for staff.

Inmates who assault staff are transferred to higher-security units, the Prison Service said.

Eliasen acknowledged past struggles, including high rates of staff absenteeism, stress, and PTSD. A 2020 study found one in seven prison officers met the criteria for PTSD, higher than rates among police officers and veterans. Annual incidents once exceeded 600.

“We came from a situation we simply couldn’t accept. Over 600 incidents a year was far too high,” she said. “But even now, we’re only satisfied when the number is zero. We know it’s nearly impossible, but we’ll keep aiming for it. Staff must feel safe at work.”