Østjylland Police has intensified its efforts to protect vulnerable witnesses by implementing expedited judicial hearings in cases where witness safety is at risk. In light of experiences with gang-related crime and parallel justice systems, the police have focused on securing witness testimonies early in the process to prevent witness tampering, according to Deputy Police Inspector Kristian Juliussen.

This strategy involves the use of pre-trial hearings that are recorded in the presence of a judge and can later be used in court proceedings. The objective is to ensure that witnesses do not face undue pressure that could lead them to alter their statements. This method is reserved for cases where there is a particularly high risk of a testimony being lost.

In addition, Østjylland Police is collaborating with Aarhus Municipality to provide temporary housing for witnesses and victims who need to relocate for their safety. There is also an emphasis on conducting interviews in private and secure environments to maintain the witnesses’ comfort and ensure their original testimonies are preserved.

The police have observed that some individuals in western Aarhus are attempting to resolve criminal conflicts outside the official justice system, sometimes by pressuring citizens to change their witness statements or withdraw complaints. In the Østjylland Police District, there has been an average of 55 reports of threats against witnesses each year from 2018 to 2024.