Why Danish police are being questioned over new documentary episode

The tangle involving TV2, police, and organised crime mole

The release this week of a new episode of broadcaster TV2’s infamous documentary series Den sorte svane (“The Black Swan”) has led to concerns over police conduct, and could also see TV2 in trouble.

In the original documentary, Smajic was extensively interviewed by TV2 and also worked as a mole for the broadcaster, which filmed meetings between Smajic and several individuals with links to organised crime. 

The series succeeded in exposing possible crimes and corruption before Smajic spectacularly turned against the showmakers in the last episode, threatening them and trying to have its broadcast shut down.

The new episode, which also revolves around Smajic, has thrown up some troubling revelations. 

In one instance, the documentary presents a secret recording where police officers reportedly instruct Smajic to lie during an interview. This was ostensibly to protect her in her role as an informant. Denmark’s independent police complaints authority (Den Uafhængige Politiklagemyndighed) has since launched an investigation into the matter.

TV2 has meanwhile been criticised for not saying in the original documentary that Smajic was also cooperating with the police at the time.

The new episode focuses on what the informant and the police have done for each other.

Advertisement

In the case in question, a person accused of fraud claimed that Smajic was also involved. According to the documentary, a conviction could have interfered with her work as a police informant, which might explain why she was allegedly told to lie. 

At the time, she was, according to the documentary, an informant for the police’s Special Crime Unit, NSK, and a conviction could have disrupted that work.

The controversy revolves around a hidden recording in the documentary appearing to show police officers instructing Smajic on what to say in a police interview – potentially be a breach of legal procedures.

Justice Minister Peter Hummelgaard responded to growing public concern over the documentary by saying he understands why questions are being raised about the conduct of the police.

“I understand why the documentary is giving cause for critical questions. It raises some serious accusations,” the minister said according to news wire Ritzau.

Prime Minister Mette Frederiksen was also asked about the case while attending this week’s Folkemødet political festival on Bornholm. Frederiksen said she hadn’t seen the new episodes and deferred to Hummelgaard, but added that “the public can still trust the Danish police.”

In a written statement issued on Thursday, the Justice Minister said he had “taken note that the police have stated there are rules for using informants, that they strive to comply with those rules, and that they react when mistakes are made.”

He also said that police must be able to act in “extremely complex” cases involving informants who are also criminals.

“But that doesn’t change the fact that rules and guidelines must be followed,” he said.

Advertisement

Neighbouring countries look to Denmark for ideas on immigration

Sweden’s right-wing governing coalition has stated in the past that it wants to remodel Swedish immigration principles to more closely resemble those of Denmark.

The restrictive line on immigration pursued in Denmark could now also be looked to for policy ideas by Germany, should comments this week from Chancellor Friedrich Merz prove a sign of things to come.

Denmark has long had tough immigration policies, with Frederiksen pursuing a “zero refugee” policy since coming to power in 2019 and granting relatively few asylum requests.

Seeking to combat the popularity of the far right, Merz has vowed to crack down hard on irregular migration, and his government has stepped up efforts to turn back undocumented migrants at Germany’s borders.

Advertisement

Speaking alongside Frederiksen at a press conference in Berlin, the German chancellor said: “Denmark has long been a role model for us in migration policy.”

“What Denmark has achieved in recent years is truly exemplary, and we have often sought information from members of the Danish cabinet and from you personally about how you have proceeded,” he said.

While acknowledging that Germany had long been a “country of immigration”, Merz emphasised that “we must not overburden our society’s willingness to accept and integrate newcomers.

Frederiksen pledged to work with Merz to find “new solutions that lower the influx to Europe” and lead to the return of “those that do not have the right to stay in our countries”.

“If we are to maintain the social cohesion of our societies we cannot accept everyone who wants to come to Europe,” she said.