Chain of security failures enabled convicted murderer’s escape

A series of security lapses allowed convicted murderer Philip Denié Dahl Petersen to escape from Vestre Prison in Copenhagen on 4 February, according to a final report by the Danish Prison and Probation Service.

The investigation found no single failure caused the escape, but rather a chain of errors, including inadequate searches and cell inspections, the agency stated in a press release.

“Unfortunately, a number of security errors were made regarding the inmate. This is serious, and we have therefore asked the prison to implement measures to tighten security,” said Ian Gunthel, security chief at the Danish Prison and Probation Service.

Details of how the escape occurred remain undisclosed due to confidentiality obligations regarding the inmate and prison security protocols.

Petersen was serving a life sentence for murder in a pub and was held in pre-trial detention at Vestre Prison while his case was under appeal.