Statistical presentation

Data description

The statistics on reported criminal offences form part of the Danish System of Criminal Statistics. The System of Criminal Statistics includes data on criminal cases from the reported offences and charges to the convictions plus arrests and imprisonments. The statistics on reported criminal offences is a case statistics and shows the number of offences of penal code and special laws/legislation (except the Road Traffic Act) reported to the police. The statistics include all criminal offences reported to the police in Denmark (exclusive of Greenland and the Faroe Islands). The reported offence is identified by a journal number which can be used by linking to other areas of the crime statistics. Other key variables are the code number of the reported criminal offence and the date and place (municipality) of the criminal offence. In order to evaluate the development in the number of reported criminal offences from quarter to quarter key series are seasonal adjusted.

Classification system

Municipalities and regions plus grouping of the codes of the criminal offences. A distinction is made between the penal code and special law/legislation. The penal code is divided into four subgroups: - Sexual offences - Crimes of violence - Offences against property - Other offences

The most special laws/legislation are referred to as single acts, while the rest are categorized as 'Other special laws/legislations'. The grouping can be seen here: Violations of the penalcode .

The provisions of the Danish Criminal Code regarding sexual offences went through essential amendments taking effect from 1 July 2013. The amendments resulted in e.g. more categories of sexual offences than previously being placed under the provisions about rape (section 216). See more: Rape

A new concept of consent regarding rape is taking effect from 1st of January 2021 which has resulted in new ways for the police to register offences regarding rape. This has to be taken into account when comparing data over time.

A new concept regarding stalking is taking effect from 1st of January 2022. Stalking is included in the category 'Coercive control etc'. The increasing number of offences in this category is due to this new concept.

Sector coverage

Not relevant.

Statistical concepts and definitions

Type of offence: Type of offence describes the kind of the reported offence. The criminal offences are divided into the penal code and special law/legislation. Violations of the penal code are grouped in sexual offences, crimes of violence, offences against property and other offences. The most special laws/legislation are referred to as single acts, while the rest are categorized as 'Other special laws/legislations'.

Reported criminal offence: A reported criminal offence is a violation of the law which has been reported or by other ways has come to the knowledge of the police.

Statistical unit

The unit in the statistics is the criminal case - here as a reported criminal offence. A violation of the law committed by more than one person is registered as one offence only - and if a violation of the law includes more than a single victim it will also be registered as one offence. If more than one person has reported the violation of the law to the police, more than one reported criminal offence can in exceptional cases be registered.

Statistical population

Violations of the penal code and the special laws (except the Road Traffic Act) in Denmark (except the Faroe Islands and Greenland), which has been reported or discovered by the police itself.

Reference area

Denmark, except the Faroe Islands and Greenland.

Time coverage

The statistics cover the time period from 1995 onwards.

Base period

Not relevant

Unit of measure

Number of reported criminal offences.

Reference period

01-10-2023 - 31-12-2023

Frequency of dissemination

The statistics are published quarterly.

Legal acts and other agreements

The Act on Statistics Denmark § 6. There is no EU Regulation related to this statistics.

Cost and burden

The statistics are based on administrative registers. There is no direct burden to the compilation of these statistics.

Comment

Additional information on reported crimes can be found on the statistics Subject page or by contacting Statistics Denmark.