Uniform
The police uniform has changed a great deal over the years, and it was most recently changed and modernised in 2005. Assessments and tests of articles of clothing and objects of equipment are carried out on an ongoing basis to ensure that the police have as optimal working conditions as possible.

When a person is employed as a police officer on probation and has attended the Police College for a period of time, he or she will receive a complete uniform. It consists among other things of a patrol jacket, patrol trousers and boots, blue shirts, clip-on security ties, a cap, t-shirts, socks, anti-riot uniform and helmet, leg and arm pads, plastic body armour, gloves, gas mask and security boots. Further-more, the officer receives a dress uniform including a jacket and a pair of black shoes.

Vehicles
The police service has at its disposal a great variety of vehicles: the white patrol cars, which most people know, the blue estate cars, which often contain one or two cages in the back for police dogs; the white motorbikes; and the blue group transport vehicles that can carry a major group of police officers.

In addition, the police also have special vehicles for transporting people who have been arrested as well as the so-called “hollænder-vogn”, which is an anti-riot group transport car covered in a special fire-resistant material that will also resist any impact from stones being thrown at it

Means of force
When police officers use force it is on the basis of the Act on Police Activities and sub-ject to thorough deliberation by the individual police officer or manager. In Denmark, the police may use, among other things, hand-cuffs, truncheons, pepper sprays, tear gas, dogs and duty firearms. The duty pistol used by the Danish police service is a 9 mm Heckler & Koch USP Compact.

Dogs
Police dogs are important means of assistance in everyday work. They are used in guarding, and to trace wanted persons, explosives or drugs, and in special cases to enforce law and order. Patrol dogs are often Alsatians. Drug dogs are frequently Labradors like the explosives dogs, but the latter also include Springer Spaniels.

IT and communication
It is important that police officers in the street and going by car are able to contact each other and the station at all times. Therefore, they are very dependent on their police radios. These years, efforts are being made to introduce an altogether new and up-to-date radio system. Similarly, the police have received allocations for much new IT equipment, which means that some of the case handling may be done via a computer in the patrol car or at a mobile offi ce.

In recent years, the Danish police have had a comprehensive website on the Internet. At www.politi.dk, citizens and the press will fi nd news about and articles on the work of the police. People can read about the police structure; they can report the theft of cars, bicycles and other objects themselves; they may also give the police a tip if they have a suspicion relating to IT crime, women trafficking, and procuring where persons control and make money on prostitutes.