In Roskilde, the Midt- og Vestsjællands Politi (Police of Midt- and West Zealand) has taken an unusual step to accommodate the many American soldiers currently stationed in the area due to a large NATO exercise. The police have distributed a special leaflet designed to educate the soldiers on understanding and respecting Danish culture and laws, including especially the Danish consent law. The leaflet, titled “Welcome to Roskilde,” contains important information on how Danes typically interact and how this may be perceived by people from other cultures. “Danes can come off as direct, and it is not meant as rudeness, but it can easily be misunderstood, especially in social situations involving alcohol,” explains the police in the material. A central point in the leaflet is the explanation of the Danish consent legislation, which is stricter than in many other places. It clearly states that verbal consent is necessary, and the lack of this can lead to charges of rape. This part of the legislation is particularly important as it differs significantly from the laws of many other countries.
Communications manager Thomas Kristensen from Midt- og Vestsjællands Politi emphasizes that the purpose of the leaflet is to ensure that the American guests have a comfortable and trouble-free stay in Denmark. “It’s not rocket science, just a help to understand the society they are temporarily a part of. We have done it before, and it has proven to be a good way to prevent misunderstandings and conflicts,” he told Sjællandske Nyheder (Sjællandske News). This proactive approach by the police is an example of how cultural understanding and legal clarity can be promoted through simple and direct communication, which is essential in a globalized world with frequent cultural encounters.