Deradicalisation is an important focus area in the Danish preventive efforts on extremism and radicalisation. Denmark has also contributed to the prevention of extremism effort in the EU and under supervision of the EU Anti Terror Coordinator, Gilles de Kerchove since Denmark has been “Lead Country” in the field of deradicalisation since 2008. Thus Denmark has gathered vast knowledge, key research and experiences in this field to share with the other EU-countries.
To produce more knowledge and experiences in the field of deradicalisation, the Ministry of Social Affairs and Integration conducts two projects co-funded by the European Commission.
- The project “Deradicalisation - Back on Track”, focuses on deradicalisation among inmates when re-entering into society. The aim of this project is to develop methods to support inmates in leaving extremism and in finding alternatives to extremist circles. The target group of the project is inmates being either convicted for the Danish Terror Act, and/or inmates assessed as being at risk of radicalisation. Mentoring schemes and involvement of parents and social networks are key elements in this project. The project is developed in close cooperation with the Danish Prison and Probation Service. The project began in 2011 and runs for 3 years.
- The project “Deradicalisation – Targeted Intervention” aims at developing specific means to support young people to leave extremism behind or to prevent that young people getting further involved in extremist circles. The project focuses on developing tools adapted to young persons and providing individual support on a long term basis. One part of the project aims at developing and testing methods for individual exit-talks, conducted by the Danish Intelligence Service, PET. The other part of the project aims at developing mentoring schemes for the young people that express extremist opinions and act discriminating towards other groups in their vicinity. This part of the project is developed by the Ministry of Social Affairs and Integration in close cooperation with the municipalities of Copenhagen and Aarhus and the East Jutland Police. The entire project is coordinated by the Division for Democratic Issues in the Ministry of Social Affairs and Integration.