Our preventive efforts aim to keep individuals from finding their way into environments where they would be at risk of becoming radicalized. And to keep former terror convicts from returning to radicalized ideologies and environments.
| What is radicalization? |
| Radicalization is a process in which a person increasingly accepts the use of violence to achieve political, religious or ideological ends. Individuals who go through a relatively short radicalization process as well as individuals who are excluded or rejected from extremist environments, for example due to unusually extreme views or behaviour, are a source of particular concern. |
Extremists and militant Islamists may be willing to use violent means to achieve their political, ideological or religious objectives and may inspire and radicalize others. Prevention of extremism is therefore a key priority for PET.
A part of PET’s preventive work is done in cooperation with the Danish Prison and Probation Service, municipalities, the Danish Centre for Prevention of Extremism, the Danish National Police and the police districts, just as PET cooperates with a number of organizations, clubs and associations.
As part of PET’s preventive efforts, PET educates members of staff at for instance the Danish Prison and Probation Service, the Danish Immigration Service, the Armed Forces, the psychiatric sector and the local police districts in order to raise their awareness of the threat picture and enable them to identify and handle signs of radicalization early on.
The Danish model for prevention of radicalization
In Denmark, the task of preventing radicalization involves multiple public authorities, in particular the country’s 98 municipalities and 12 police districts. A forum for this cooperation is the so-called “info houses”.
These bring together representatives from municipalities and police districts working with preventing crimes motivated by extremism or militant Islamism. Members of staff from the Danish Prison and Probation Service and the psychiatric sector participate on an ad hoc basis.
The purpose is both to share knowledge and discuss any worrying trends and to have a forum which allows all relevant authorities to join forces in cases of concern over an individual at risk of committing a crime motivated by extremism.
Efforts aimed at individuals
PET’s EXIT programme aims to prevent individuals from coming to pose a threat to Danish society. The EXIT programme targets individuals who have either committed a crime motivated by extremism, form part of extremist environments or have been reported to the authorities for displaying radicalized behaviour.
In the specific preventive EXIT programmes, PET cooperates with police districts and the Danish Prison and Probation Service to prevent individuals from committing acts of violent extremism.
Cooperation with civil society actors
A part of PET’s preventive efforts is to reach out to communities that have been – or are at risk of becoming – affected by violent extremism or militant Islamism. These may include sports clubs, religious associations or associations in disadvantaged areas.
The dialogue with civil society actors helps develop and tailor initiatives that can prevent various types of threats. The objective is to support and strengthen the will and ability of local stakeholders to take ownership of our common security and safety.
As part of the preventive efforts, PET also engages in dialogue with opinion makers, foundations and researchers in order to share knowledge on the prevention of radicalization and violent extremism.
PET hosts regular network meetings, courses and seminars for civil society actors.
Who to contact
Are you worried that someone you know may be showing signs of radicalization? Maybe you are involved in something yourself and need to talk to someone?
- If you have knowledge or suspicion of illegal activities relating to violent extremism, you should contact the police by calling 114 or report the activity online on politi.dk.
- You are also welcome to contact PET (pet@pet.dk) if you witness signs of radicalization which you believe we should know about.
- 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. For more information (in Danish), visit antiradikalisering.dk.