Error in Criminal Register: Child protection certificates and firearms permits put on hold

The Danish National Police have identified an error in the Criminal Register that resulted in information about certain rulings being deleted earlier than it should have been.

The error could, among other things, affect the processing of child protection certificates. While the National Police investigate the extent of the problem, the issuance of both child protection certificates and firearms permits has been put on hold.

The error was discovered in connection with a specific case in June, when the Police Administrative Centre became aware that a conviction which should have remained in the Criminal Register was no longer registered.

“It is very serious that there are errors in the Criminal Register, because the register plays a central role in the handling of offences and criminal cases in Denmark. We are therefore doing everything we can to restore the deleted rulings,” National Police Commissioner Lasse Boje said.

48 rulings restored

Based on data from 2021 onwards, the Police Administrative Centre has identified 48 rulings that were incorrectly deleted. They have now been restored to the register.

Police have investigated whether any of the 48 rulings were missing from child protection certificates that had already been issued. According to the National Police, this was not the case.

Preliminary investigations indicate that any rulings that may have been incorrectly deleted too early are limited to rulings dating from before 2011.

The National Police also assess that the error has not resulted in missing rulings on private or public criminal record certificates. According to the National Police, this is because such certificates do not contain rulings that are more than ten years old.

However, the error could have consequences in other areas, including the processing of child protection certificates.

Full extent of error under investigation

The Criminal Register is an internal police database containing information including charges and rulings in criminal cases.

The information is used for purposes including background and suitability checks and the issuance of permits relating to firearms and private security services. It also forms the basis for information included in child protection certificates.

The National Police are now carrying out a wider investigation to determine the full extent of the error and whether deleted rulings can be restored. Relevant authorities and organisations are also being informed.

According to the National Police, no convictions have been incorrectly deleted since the authorities became aware of the error.

The National Police expect to decide shortly whether the issuance of child protection certificates and firearms permits can resume.

:NB: