Drops charges to close cases

« All the assholes go free »

One of the officers who stands out by name is Martin Bjørnvig, investigator of East Jutland Police. He says the method was introduced after criticism internally in the police circle in September 2024.

He feels that the citizens who admit relationships and want to take responsibility are sentenced while those who refuse release.

« All the assholes go free. It’s those who don’t care about law and right, » he says.

At the same time, Martin Bjørnvig expresses a serious concern for legal certainty.

He says that it often ends up with those who repent and confess are convicted while others go free.

To him, this means that in some cases he experiences having to disregard the rights of citizens, which he cannot guarantee.

Also, several legal experts warn against the consequences of the practice that has been described.

Professor Nicolaj Sivan Holst from Aarhus University emphasizes that it is not legal to avoid charges simply to reduce the number of cases.

He sees it as a clear circumvention of the Administration of Justice Act and believes that the police, with the approach, have exceeded a serious limit.

DR’s revelations therefore point to a deeper problem in the police’s work culture and focus sharply on whether it is in fact legal certainty that is being disregarded when the consideration of efficiency takes precedence.