Denmark Implements Facial Recognition to Tackle Gang Violence

Denmark’s New Approach to Combat Gang Violence with Facial Recognition Technology

In a significant move to address the escalating gang-related violence in Denmark, police authorities have announced the implementation of facial recognition technology. This decision was revealed during a critical meeting on Monday between the national police commissioner and the justice minister. Justice Minister Peter Hummelgaard and the head of Denmark’s national police, Thorkild Fogde, convened to explore effective strategies to combat the increasing incidents of shootings and violent crimes, particularly in Copenhagen.

During the meeting, Fogde emphasized the need to leverage modern technology, stating, “It’s about technology, about digital tools, the dark web. The technology that is at our disposal. There is a whole catalog of technical tools to use.” This includes using facial recognition software and other digital tools to access encrypted communications that are often utilized by criminal organizations.

To enable the use of such technologies, Minister Hummelgaard indicated that legal amendments are necessary, promising that the required changes will be expedited. He condemned the organized criminal gangs that employ young Swedish individuals to execute violent acts in Denmark, labeling this practice as “a totally sick, depraved culture of violence.”

According to official statistics, there have been approximately 25 reported incidents since April in which Danish gangs have allegedly hired Swedish teenagers to perpetrate crimes within Denmark’s borders. Hummelgaard expressed his outrage, stating, “It’s terrifying in every way and it makes me angry. Really, really angry.” He also vowed to “put pressure on Sweden so that they also take responsibility for these issues.”

Gang Violence Involving Sweden

Last year, Swedish law enforcement reported a notable rise in the recruitment of minors under the age of 18 for carrying out contract killings. This trend is attributed to the fact that minors face reduced police scrutiny and are often shielded from prosecution. One of the prominent criminal organizations involved is the Loyal to Familia gang, which is based in Sweden and was officially banned in 2021.

Sociologist Aydin Soei remarked on the troubling situation, noting that “Their members are probably the ones who are stopped and searched most often by the police.” His comments came after the apprehension of two Swedish teenagers, aged 17 and 16, who were detained in connection with shootings in Kolding and Copenhagen, respectively. Soei added, “It is convenient for them to be able to use Swedish children as cannon fodder, unfortunately.”

In response to the arrests, Danish Prime Minister Mette Frederiksen described the situation as “an eerie example of cynical criminals hiring Swedish youths to commit crimes in Denmark,” asserting, “We will not accept that.”

Last year, Swedish authorities estimated that approximately 62,000 individuals in Sweden were affiliated with criminal gangs. These organizations often recruit members from socially disadvantaged immigrant neighborhoods, with most violent activities concentrated in Sweden’s three largest cities: Stockholm, Goteborg, and Malmo.

While Sweden has been grappling with gang violence for several years, Denmark has witnessed violence among gangs on a comparatively smaller scale. As of the end of last year, around 1,257 individuals were identified by Danish authorities as having connections to organized crime.