Bording portal aims to boost safety near departure centre

A new online portal in Bording aims to strengthen residents’ sense of safety by highlighting positive stories from the town, which is often covered in connection with the nearby Kærshovedgård Departure Centre, DR reports.

The “Lev i Bording” portal launched this week with a website and Facebook page. Its stories include profiles of a volunteer football coach, a pensioner who volunteers at a school and chair-based exercise at a community activity centre.

The portal was developed by Lokal Tryghed following a proposal from a resident. It cost 400,000 kroner, funded through money allocated in the national budget for safety initiatives in neighbourhoods around the centre, which lies seven kilometres outside Bording.

Henrik Engedahl, coordinator of Lokal Tryghed, said the portal would draw attention to everyday life in the town, including neighbours and local associations. He said it was intended as an additional approach to safety, alongside measures such as patrols, alarms and street lighting.

Simon Vanggaard, a town councillor for the Danish People’s Party, said the website would not make him feel safer or change the problems of living near a departure centre. However, he said the portal was good for Bording and welcomed its state funding.

The national budget provides 5.8 million kroner a year through 2029 for safety initiatives in the area around Kærshovedgård.