Many people perceive becoming a police officer as difficult. However, most people can handle the training, according to the principal. A multi-year agreement for the police force from the end of 2020 was supposed to ensure 450 extra officers. But three and a half years later, only 170 extra officers have joined. The primary reason why more people do not apply to the Police Academy is the huge range of educational opportunities. This is the opinion of Jan Bjørn, principal at the Police Academy, who adds that “the competition is tougher than it has ever been”. “There are many of us who want to reach out to them (young people),” says Jan Bjørn. He does not believe that the admission requirements of the Police Academy scare off applicants. But Jan Bjørn believes that many people have the perception that becoming a police officer is very difficult. “We need to get better at conveying that it is an education and an admission process that most people can handle,” he says. The principal notes that the number of admissions has remained relatively stable between 550 and 600 over the past three years. “But we would really like to have more. We have also had plans for that, but we have not been able to find them,” he says. Justice Minister Peter Hummelgaard emphasizes to TV 2 that there is a need for more officers. The main reason for recruitment challenges is that there is “competition for hands” in the Danish labor market, he believes. The minister neither answers yes nor no to reintroducing salary during the entire police education, which SF’s legal spokesman, Karina Lorentzen, wants in order to make the education more attractive. “Salary during education is a political issue, but it is also a topic that is of concern to the students at the Police Academy,” says principal Jan Bjørn.
The work as a police officer requires that one is in good physical shape. Therefore, the admission test for the education includes a physical test that assesses fitness, strength, speed, and coordination. In addition, it is important that one can write clearly and understandably, as well as deliver a coherent argument, writes the police on its website. The Police Academy has launched several initiatives to ensure increased admissions. Specifically, those who fail the admission test are offered to participate in a qualification course. “We had a program with 24 people who had challenges with the physical requirements. There was an exam yesterday (Friday), and 20 passed,” says Jan Bjørn. The Police Academy does the same with the requirements for written Danish, “which we also cannot compromise on.” “The qualification course in Danish, which takes place at the Police Academy with Danish teachers, has led to 100 extra admissions in the past year,” it says. The Police Academy has an education center in Brøndbyøster near Copenhagen and Vejle. The school also offers the education to police cadets.