Three times the normal rate: High rate of violent crime among children of immigrants in Denmark, according to a new report.

The Danish Ministry of Justice has just published a new report on violence statistics for 2023, and the report shows that males of non-Western immigrant backgrounds are more represented than expected in violence cases. Their index for group violence (assaults involving several people) reached 384, 3.8 times the normal rate, while their overall violence index was 290, nearly three times the normal rate.

Male non-Western immigrants scored 196 on group violence and 213 on general violence, nearly double the normal rate. The ministry emphasizes that the number of these cases is limited, making the results subject to statistical uncertainty.

The difference between public violence and collective violence

Public violence: This includes all forms of physical assault, whether between two or more people (such as individual fights, domestic abuse, or street fights).

Group violence is a specific type of violence where several people collectively assault one or more individuals simultaneously. This does not necessarily imply an organized gang, but can be a spontaneous gathering of several people who participate in the attack.

Results from the Danish Ministry of Justice report (2023)

Reference level (100): Represents the expected normal rate when comparing the size and ages of groups.

Male children of non-Western immigrants (born in Denmark):

• In cases of mass violence: Index 384 (approximately 3.8 times the normal rate).
• In cases of violence in general: Index 290 (i.e., about 2.9 times the normal rate).

Male non-Western immigrants (new arrivals in Denmark):

• In cases of mass violence: Index 196 (i.e., about twice the normal rate).
• In cases of violence in general: Index 213 (i.e., about 2.1 times the normal rate).

Ministry of Justice comments on the report

The figures reflect an overrepresentation in the statistics for the groups concerned, but they do not necessarily mean that every individual in these groups is more prone to crime.

The number of cases in mass violence is relatively small, and therefore the results are subject to a degree of statistical uncertainty.