Duties of the Police

The duties of the police are to ensure that laws and regulations are complied with and to take the necessary steps to prevent crime. This is achieved among other things by way of regular patrolling and by criminal investigation. The police also administer a number of areas that are subject to authorisation.

Purpose
The duties and purpose of the police are set out in the Administration of Justice Act and in the Act on Police Activities:

”The purpose of the police is to maintain safety, security, peace and order in society. The police shall further this purpose by means of prevention, assistance and law enforcement.”

Duties
Against the background of this purpose, the duties of the police are:
  • to prevent criminal offences, breaches of the public peace and order and danger to the safety of individuals and public security;
  • to avert any danger of breach of the public peace and order and any danger to the safety of individuals and public security;
  • to put an end to criminal activities and to investigate and prosecute criminal offences;
  • to assist citizens in other dangerous situations;
  • to carry out checks, controls and supervision in accordance with applicable law;
  • to assist other authorities in accordance with applicable law; and 
  • to perform other duties following from applicable law or otherwise naturally associated with police activities.

Preventive Activity
The police have a preventive role to play and must prevent criminal offences. Since the Crime Prevention Council was set up in 1971, the police have taken part in the Council’s work. For instance, the police provide instruction in crime prevention as well as traffic instruction for various age groups in the country’s schools.

Citizen-related Service
The police also have a number of administrative functions. Many of these are directly related to the citizens: for example, issuing passports and driving licences, conducting driving tests, issuing weapons licences, administration of lost property and registration of vehicles.

Cooperation Partners
Other tasks are of the nature of assistance to other Ministries and authorities, for example cases concerning guardianship and marriage legislation, legislation pertaining to aliens, bringing people to the enforcement court, and serving judgments.

Preparedness
In addition, the police are an important element in the total preparedness of the country, among other things in connection with warning and evacuating the population in crisis situations.

Greenland and the Faroe Islands
The duties of the police in Greenland and the Faroe Islands are of a similar nature as those of a Danish police district.

 12. april 2005
 

25-05-2012