Prevention of radicalization and violent extremism
PET's preventive efforts are designed to contribute to deterring individuals from becoming part of an extremist environment and, ultimately, carrying out acts of terrorism. Our preventive efforts are aimed at both individuals and local communities at risk of being affected by radicalization and extremism.
The aim of PET’s preventive efforts is twofold: To prevent individuals from engaging in violent extremist communities and to deter terror convicts from returning to violent extremist behavioural patterns and communities.
Some of our preventive efforts are carried out in close cooperation with the police districts and the Danish Prison and Probation Service, and we also cooperate with a number of national as well as local civil society organizations and associations. At a national coordinative level, PET also cooperates with the Danish National Police and Centre for Documentation and Counter Extremism (CDE).
PET’s preventive efforts include training of frontline workers from – among others – the local police districts, the Danish Prison and Probation Service, the Danish Immigration Service, and the mental health sector in order to raise awareness of the threat picture and enable participants to identify, handle, and report signs of radicalization and extremism as early as possible. The efforts of the Centre for Prevention always take a point of departure in the current threat and intelligence picture and training is based on evidence-based methods.
| What is radicalization? |
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Radicalization is a process in which a person increasingly accepts the use of violence to achieve political, religious or ideological ends. The process differs from person to person, and it may vary from short intense periods to periods spanning several years. Radicalization is increasingly happening online, for instance on social media, gaming and communications platforms and in other virtual networks. Attention points relating to radicalization include sudden behavioural changes that cause concern, for instance hate speech against authorities, ethnic groups and religious minorities and expression of sympathy with extremist groups. |
The Danish model for prevention of radicalization
The Danish approach to preventing and countering radicalization and violent extremism is based on a multi-agency collaboration between security services and social stakeholders, involving local, regional and national authorities. Cooperation between the authorities is based on the fundamental premise that preventive efforts should cover both security and well-being. Accordingly, preventive efforts involve a number of authorities, but especially the 12 police districts and the 98 municipalities in Denmark, who cooperates and coordinate at the local level within the network structure called the info-house.
This meeting forum brings together representatives from municipalities and police districts who meet to discuss specific concerns with a view to preventing crimes motivated by extremism. Staff from the Danish Prison and Probation Service and the mental health sector participate on an ad hoc basis.
At a national level, PET, the Danish National Police, the Danish Prison and Probation Service, and Centre for Documentation and Counter Extremism (CDE) have a more strategic and advisory role in relation to the 12 info houses in Denmark. PET cooperates closely with the police districts in relation to specific cases with a focus on security aspects, while CDE advises the municipalities on preventive methods and the organization of preventive efforts with a focus on well-being.
Efforts aimed at individuals
The purpose of PET’s preventive efforts aimed at individuals is to ensure that they do not constitute a terrorist threat to Danish society. For instance, these efforts target radicalized individuals, previous terror convicts, returnees from conflict zones, and individuals who is part of violent extremist communities.
While PET is responsible for handling and preventing threats from individuals, the police districts are responsible for prevention of radicalization that eventually turn into a terrorist threat in the long term. The police districts’ efforts to prevent radicalization is based on a multisectored approach and is closely coordinated with the municipalities in the infohouses.
PET's outreach to civil society
PET’s preventive efforts also consist of reaching out to civil society actors who work in or who are part of communities that are – or are at risk of becoming – affected by extremism. For instance, these actors may come from cultural, sports, and religious associations or from communities that may be affected by radicalization.
The dialogue with civil society contributes to supporting and informing about initiatives that may prevent various types of threats. The purpose is to bolster the will and capability of local actors to take ownership of our mutual security and safety.
PET’s preventive efforts within this field also include dialogue, for instance with opinion makers, foundations, and researchers, in order to generate, collect, and share knowledge on the prevention of radicalization and violent extremism.
PET regularly hosts network meetings and seminars for civil society actors, and the agendas comprise both current issues and general preventive measures.
Who to contact
Are you concerned because someone you know is showing signs of radicalization? Or are you involved in something yourself and need to talk to someone?
- If you know or suspect illegal activities relating to violent extremism, you should contact the police by calling 114 or reporting the activity on politi.dk
- You are also welcome to contact PET (pet.dk/kontakt-pet) if you have specific concerns regarding radicalization and/or extremism.
- You can call the national anti-radicalization hotline on (+45) 41 74 90 90. The hotline is open daily from 08.00 to 22.00. You can call anonymously, and the staff is under a duty of confidentiality.