When does the line cross from police's legal use of force to violence, cf. Criminal Code §§ 244 ff.
Translated title
Hvor går grensen mellom politiets lovlige maktanvendelse over til vold, jf. STRL §§ 244 ff.
Author
Yaqub, Hajrah
Term
4. term
Education
Publication year
2026
Pages
81
Abstract
This thesis examines where the boundary lies between the police’s lawful use of force under the Danish Police Act §§ 15–16 and violence under the Criminal Code §§ 244 ff. The aim is to identify the decisive factors and how they operate in practice. Using a doctrinal legal method, the analysis draws on legislation, preparatory works, case law, legal commentaries and the Independent Police Complaints Authority’s annual report, and also addresses self-defence under Criminal Code § 13. The key findings indicate that lawful force must be necessary, reasonable and proportionate, and carried out carefully and with restraint, whereas criminal violence requires intent and must exceed a de minimis threshold; minor unlawful acts are not always treated as violence. The thesis reviews the complaint framework—behavioural cases and cases involving criminal offences handled by the Independent Police Complaints Authority, and administrative decision complaints handled by the police district—and shows through authoritative examples how legal standards are applied. It concludes that when the requirements of necessity, reasonableness and proportionality are not met, legal consequences may follow, and decisions by the Complaints Authority are final and not appealable to other bodies. Ultimately, drawing the line requires an overall assessment in which force is used only to protect citizens or prevent ongoing or potential risks without causing more harm than the situation requires.
Denne afhandling undersøger, hvor grænsen går mellem politiets lovlige magtanvendelse efter politilovens §§ 15–16 og vold efter straffelovens §§ 244 ff. Formålet er at identificere de afgørende kriterier og deres praktiske betydning. Afhandlingen anvender en retsdogmatisk metode baseret på lovgivning, forarbejder, retspraksis, juridiske kommentarer og Den Uafhængige Politiklagemyndigheds årsberetning, og behandler også nødværge efter straffelovens § 13. Hovedresultaterne viser, at lovlig magt kræver nødvendighed, forsvarlighed og proportionalitet, herunder skånsom og tilbageholden udførelse, mens strafbar vold forudsætter forsæt og skal ligge over en bagatelgrænse; mindre ulovlige handlinger er ikke altid vold. Afhandlingen gennemgår klagesystemet, herunder adfærdssager og sager om strafbare forhold hos Politiklagemyndigheden samt dispositionsklager hos politikredsen, og viser med autoritative eksempler, hvordan standarderne anvendes i praksis. Konklusionen er, at overskrides kravene til nødvendighed, forsvarlighed og proportionalitet, kan der indtræde retlige konsekvenser, og Politiklagemyndighedens afgørelser kan ikke prøves af andre instanser. Grænsedragningen beror på en samlet vurdering, hvor magt kun må bruges til at beskytte borgere eller afværge aktuelle eller potentielle risici uden at forvolde mere skade end nødvendigt.
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