Marie has made a difficult decision: her 15-year-old daughter is no longer allowed to walk in Skærbæk after dark. This decision is driven by fear, as her daughter has repeatedly faced uncomfortable encounters with men from the local asylum center. “They ask for cigarettes or alcohol, and when they hear no, they become increasingly aggressive,” Marie explains, mentioning an incident where her daughter was chased by a man on a bicycle.
Since a group of Ukrainian asylum seekers arrived at the Skærbæk Center (Center Skærbæk) in July, several local residents have reported a growing discomfort. Both business owners and ordinary citizens have experienced incidents of theft, threats, and violations of modesty. Another local resident, who prefers to remain anonymous and goes by “Camilla,” also expresses her fear. Living close to the asylum center, she recounts instances where asylum seekers have trespassed on her property and stared into her home.
At the asylum center, manager Niels Bøgskov Frederiksen has confirmed that they are in dialogue with both the Danish Agency for Immigration and Integration (Udlændingestyrelsen) and the police. Meanwhile, Southern and South Jutland Police (Syd- og Sønderjyllands Politi) have stated that they are taking the situation seriously. A mobile police station is prepared to be deployed to the town to support the concerned residents.
Police Inspector Henrik Thrane Jensen urges citizens to report incidents to the police instead of sharing their experiences solely on social media. He emphasizes the importance of all reports being handled appropriately, although due to confidentiality laws, they cannot comment on specific cases.
Marie has made her choice to protect her daughter, and many others in the town have also altered their routines out of fear. It is evident that the residents of Skærbæk are longing for safety to return to their daily lives.