Wednesday evening, the first municipal security guards made their debut in the streets of Copenhagen as part of a new pilot scheme. According to the City of Copenhagen, which announced the news in a press release, the guards will initially patrol the Inner City. Unit Manager Stine Jochumsen from the technical and environmental administration emphasizes that the guards may be moved to other areas depending on the need, for example, at large events or concerts.
The pilot scheme, which Aarhus Municipality also plans to implement, entails that the security guards do not have police powers. They will wear a special uniform that makes them easily recognizable, and they must undergo mandatory training to prepare them for the challenges they may face on the streets.
The security guards will work closely with the police and support their work by documenting incidents and ensuring that citizens can move around safely around the clock. Minister of Justice Peter Hummelgaard (The Social Democrats) has previously stated that security guards are an important element in increasing citizens’ safety, especially in situations with noisy behavior and intoxicated individuals in the neighborhood.
Despite the positive intentions from a political standpoint, the pilot scheme faces opposition from the Police Union. Union President Heino Kegel has expressed his skepticism to TV 2 Kosmopol and calls the initiative “pseudo-security”. He believes that the resources could be better spent on hiring more police officers.
The three-year pilot scheme came into effect on May 1, 2024, and both the City of Copenhagen and Aarhus Municipality will evaluate the effect of the presence of security guards in the city streets in the coming years.