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{{Short description|none}} <!-- This short description is INTENTIONALLY "none" - please see WP:SDNONE before you consider changing it! --> |
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{{short description|Law enforcement in Greenland}} |
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[[File:DKPOL-Landcruiser2.jpg|thumb|300px|Greenland Police [[Sport utility vehicle|SUV]] in Nuuk.]] |
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{{more footnotes|date=April 2012}} |
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'''Law enforcement in [[Greenland]]''', |
'''Law enforcement in [[Greenland]]''', an autonomous country of the [[Danish Realm|Kingdom of Denmark]], is provided by '''Kalaallit Nunaanni Politiit''' ({{lang-en|Greenland Police}}, {{lang-da|Grønlands Politi}}) an independent police districtofNaalagaaffiup Politiivi ({{lang-en|The National Police of Denmark}}, {{lang-da|[[Rigspolitiet]]}}), within the [[Police of Denmark|National Police of Denmark]]. Since 2006, Greenland has constituted one of the 12 police districts of the Rigspolitiet, headed by the chief constable known as the ''Politiit Pisortaat'' based in [[Nuuk]], the capital of Greenland.<ref>{{Cite web |title=Policing Profiles of Participating and Partner States |url=https://polis.osce.org/countries/details?item_id=15 |url-status=dead |archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20070718073950/http://polis.osce.org/countries/details?item_id=15 |archive-date=2007-07-18 |website=OSCE POLIS}}</ref> |
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The Greenlandic police and prison system are ''de facto'' locally run, but formally under the Danish State.<ref>{{cite web | title=Organisationen | url=https://politi.gl/organisationen | publisher=politi.gl | access-date=2 March 2023 }}</ref><ref>{{cite web | title=Grønland | url=https://www.kriminalforsorgen.dk/om-os/kriminalforsorgens-opgaver/groenland/ | publisher=kriminalforsorgen | access-date=2 March 2023 }}</ref> As part of the [[2008 Greenlandic self-government referendum|2009 self-governing agreement]] between Denmark and Greenland, at request the full responsibility will be transferred to Greenland's authorities, but this has not yet been requested by the [[Greenlandic parliament]].<ref>{{cite news | title=Aki-Matilda Høegh-Dam: Hjemtagelse af områder er ikke nødvendig for et selvstændigt Grønland | url=https://knr.gl/da/nyheder/aki-matilda-h%C3%B8egh-dam-hjemtagelse-af-omr%C3%A5der-er-ikke-n%C3%B8dvendig-et-selvst%C3%A6ndigt-gr%C3%B8nland | date=20 January 2023 | publisher=Kalaallit Nunaata Radioa | access-date=2 March 2023 }}</ref> |
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==Levels of crime== |
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Greenland is thought to be a relatively safe place. "Single women traveling in Greenland don't generally encounter any special worries." (Lonely Planet) Greenland's main problems in crime are generally linked to drinking or drug use, which has led to outlawing of alcohol in some towns and villages (Lonely Planet). Some bars like the "disreputable Hotel Tupilak disco produces plenty of broken glass." Other issues such as domestic violence and solvent abuse also plague Greenland. |
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==Crime== |
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The sale of [[Liquor|hard liquor]], which became legal in the 1950s, has led to violence connected to [[alcohol abuse]]. In some towns, the sale of hard liquor was once rationed as a preventative measure.<ref>{{Cite web |last=Semuels |first=Alana |date=2015-09-14 |title=What Prohibition Looks Like in 2015 |url=https://www.theatlantic.com/business/archive/2015/09/is-prohibition-a-good-idea-after-all/405028/ |access-date=2022-06-20 |website=[[The Atlantic]] |language=en}}</ref> Other issues such as [[domestic violence]] and [[substance abuse]] are also pressing problems in Greenland.<ref>{{Cite web |last=Bergquist |first=Elisabeth |date=2017-10-13 |title=Went to Greenland to Fight Violence and Abuse |url=https://www.highnorthnews.com/en/went-greenland-fight-violence-and-abuse |access-date=2022-03-19 |website=High North News |language=en}}</ref><ref>{{Cite journal |last1=Leth |first1=Sara Viskum |last2=Bjerrum |first2=Maibritt Leif |last3=Niclasen |first3=Birgit V. |date=2021-01-01 |title=Polysubstance abuse among sexually abused in alcohol, drug, and gambling addiction treatment in Greenland: a cross sectional study |url=https://doi.org/10.1080/22423982.2020.1849909 |journal=[[International Journal of Circumpolar Health]] |volume=80 |issue=1 |pages=1849909 |doi=10.1080/22423982.2020.1849909 |pmc=7717711 |pmid=33250010}}</ref> |
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Most large towns of populations upwards of 1,000 and some smaller ones have a police presence with a contact number to keep on good relations with locals and tourists. |
Most large towns of populations upwards of 1,000 and some smaller ones have a police presence with a contact number to keep on good relations with locals and tourists. |
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==Prison system== |
==Prison system== |
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In the [[Inuit]] society, punishment for crimes traditionally was relatively lenient, as everybody were needed to survive in the harsh, isolated environment of Greenland. As an extension of this, most of the Greenlandic prison system runs on a uniquely open model.<ref name=TG1999>{{cite news| title=Land where killers are free to go hunting | url=https://www.theguardian.com/world/1999/sep/13/4 | date=12 September 1999 | work=The Guardian | access-date=2 March 2023 }}</ref><ref name=":0"/> Inmates that are part of the open system must report to prison between 9:30 p.m. and 6:30 a.m. each day, but may go to work, visit relatives and complete errands while in the community. They also may hunt with firearms if they are escorted by a prison guard. Prisoners have keys to their own cells, as this is regarded as a form of privacy. A failure to attend prison will result in 7 days in solitary confinement once the escapee returns. Prisoners are also subjected to drug testing, and a failed drug test will result in solitary confinement.<ref>{{Cite web |date=2019-04-08 |title=Greenland: monitoring and rehab |url=https://www.prison-insider.com/en/articles/groenland-surveiller-et-ouvrir |access-date=2022-03-20 |website=Prison Insider |language=en}}</ref> Because of the geographic isolation of Greenland's towns and overall small population ("everybody knows everybody"), escapes from the open facilities are very rare.<ref name=TG1999/> |
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Greenlandic prisoners considered too high risk for the open system or requiring a high level of supervision used to all be sent to Denmark's [[Institution of Herstedvester|Herstedvester]], a prison which also has the capacity to provide psychiatric care.<ref name=":0"/> Since this system was implemented in the 1950s, slightly more than 100 Greenlandic prisoners have been in Herstedvester,<ref name=":0"/> and in 2018 there were 27.<ref name=TV22018>{{cite news| title=Grønlændere får egen anstalt men de fleste vil blive i dansk fængsel | url=https://nyheder.tv2.dk/samfund/2018-07-05-gronlaendere-far-egen-anstalt-men-de-fleste-vil-blive-i-dansk-faengsel | date=5 July 2018 | publisher=TV2 | access-date=2 March 2023 }}</ref> In 2019, Greenland's first fully [[closed prison]] became operational in the capital of Nuuk, reducing the need for sending some prisoners to Denmark.<ref name=":0">{{Cite news |last=Sillesen |first=Lene Bech |date=2020-09-17 |title=The Return: Can technology shape our dreams? |language=en |work=[[Harper's Magazine]] |url=https://harpers.org/2020/09/the-return-herstedvester-prison/ |access-date=2022-03-20 |issn=0017-789X}}</ref> The new prison, which is able to house up to 76 inmates, in an open and a closed group, enables inmates to cook for themselves, to keep in touch with their families via provided cell phones and encourages outdoor-activities.<ref name=":0"/><ref>{{Cite web |last=Lazarus |first=Sarah |date=2018-03-17 |title=Why Greenland's most dangerous criminals are coming home |url=https://www.cnn.com/2018/03/16/europe/humane-prison-greenland/index.html |access-date=2022-03-20 |website=[[CNN]]}}</ref><ref>{{Cite web |last=Astbury |first=Jon |date=2021-07-27 |title=Schmidt Hammer Lassen and Friis & Moltke design "humane prison" in Greenland's capital |url=https://www.dezeen.com/2021/07/27/anstalten-prison-nuuk-greeland-schmidt-hammer-lassen-friis-moltke/ |access-date=2022-03-20 |website=[[Dezeen]] |language=en}}</ref> Greenlandic prisoners already in Herstedvester were given the possibility of being transferred to the new prison in Nuuk. A large proportion have wished to serve their sentence in Denmark instead of Nuuk, typically because they want to stay in Denmark when released, feel no more connected to the Greenlandic capital than to Denmark (there are significant cultural differences between different Greenlandic regions and some inmates originate from places very far from Nuuk), or they want access to specialized treatment resources that are not available at the relatively small Greenlandic facility.<ref name=TV22018/><ref>{{cite news| title=Indsatte foretrækker Herstedvester frem for Nuuk | url=https://knr.gl/da/nyheder/indsatte-foretr%C3%A6kker-herstedvester-frem-nuuk | date=21 April 2016 | publisher=Kalaallit Nunaata Radioa | access-date=2 March 2023 }}</ref> Shortly after its completion, British broadcast journalist [[Raphael Rowe]] visited the new Nuuk prison for an episode of his documentary ''[[Inside the World's Toughest Prisons]]'', where it was noted that it was very different from other prisons he had visited, with the facilities being quite comfortable for the inmates, them having a relatiely high level of freedom within it and the overall strong focus on rehabilitation.<ref>{{Cite web |last=Wainio |first=Wade |date=2021-03-24 |title=Inside the World's Toughest Prisons Season 5 finale recap: Greenland |url=https://showsnob.com/2021/03/24/inside-worlds-toughest-prisons-season-5-finale-recap-greenland/ |access-date=2022-03-20 |website=Show Snob |language=en-US}}</ref> |
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Greenland intends to construct a secure facility to house prisoners needing continual supervision and/or psychiatric care, with a 20-bed capacity, a project on foot since 2007 which has been delayed several times until 2017. As a consequence, Greenlandic prisoners requiring a high level of supervision are sent to Denmark's [[Institution of Herstedvester|Herstedvester]], a prison which has the capacity to provide psychiatric care. There remains ongoing issues with care in this facility, with complaints ranging from the language barrier with Danish guards, to the Danish system de-prioritising Greenlandic inmates care and rehabilitation against the needs of Danish inmates, to the problematic means of Nuuk's judicial evaluation of the prisoners through [[Skype]] teleconferencing. |
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==See also== |
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*[[Rigspolitiet]] - National police of Denmark |
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*[[Police of Denmark|Politiet]] - State police of Denmark |
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==References== |
==References== |
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{{DEFAULTSORT:Law Enforcement In Greenland}} |
{{DEFAULTSORT:Law Enforcement In Greenland}} |
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[[Category:Greenlandic law]] |
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[[Category:Law enforcement in Greenland| ]] |
[[Category:Law enforcement in Greenland| ]] |
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[[Category:Law of Greenland|Enforcement]] |
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{{Greenland-stub}} |
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{{law-enforcement-stub}} |
{{law-enforcement-stub}} |
Law enforcement in Greenland, an autonomous country of the Kingdom of Denmark, is provided by Kalaallit Nunaanni Politiit (English: Greenland Police, Danish: Grønlands Politi) an independent police district of Naalagaaffiup Politiivi (English: The National Police of Denmark, Danish: Rigspolitiet), within the National Police of Denmark. Since 2006, Greenland has constituted one of the 12 police districts of the Rigspolitiet, headed by the chief constable known as the Politiit Pisortaat based in Nuuk, the capital of Greenland.[1]
The Greenlandic police and prison system are de facto locally run, but formally under the Danish State.[2][3] As part of the 2009 self-governing agreement between Denmark and Greenland, at request the full responsibility will be transferred to Greenland's authorities, but this has not yet been requested by the Greenlandic parliament.[4]
The sale of hard liquor, which became legal in the 1950s, has led to violence connected to alcohol abuse. In some towns, the sale of hard liquor was once rationed as a preventative measure.[5] Other issues such as domestic violence and substance abuse are also pressing problems in Greenland.[6][7]
Most large towns of populations upwards of 1,000 and some smaller ones have a police presence with a contact number to keep on good relations with locals and tourists.
In the Inuit society, punishment for crimes traditionally was relatively lenient, as everybody were needed to survive in the harsh, isolated environment of Greenland. As an extension of this, most of the Greenlandic prison system runs on a uniquely open model.[8][9] Inmates that are part of the open system must report to prison between 9:30 p.m. and 6:30 a.m. each day, but may go to work, visit relatives and complete errands while in the community. They also may hunt with firearms if they are escorted by a prison guard. Prisoners have keys to their own cells, as this is regarded as a form of privacy. A failure to attend prison will result in 7 days in solitary confinement once the escapee returns. Prisoners are also subjected to drug testing, and a failed drug test will result in solitary confinement.[10] Because of the geographic isolation of Greenland's towns and overall small population ("everybody knows everybody"), escapes from the open facilities are very rare.[8]
Greenlandic prisoners considered too high risk for the open system or requiring a high level of supervision used to all be sent to Denmark's Herstedvester, a prison which also has the capacity to provide psychiatric care.[9] Since this system was implemented in the 1950s, slightly more than 100 Greenlandic prisoners have been in Herstedvester,[9] and in 2018 there were 27.[11] In 2019, Greenland's first fully closed prison became operational in the capital of Nuuk, reducing the need for sending some prisoners to Denmark.[9] The new prison, which is able to house up to 76 inmates, in an open and a closed group, enables inmates to cook for themselves, to keep in touch with their families via provided cell phones and encourages outdoor-activities.[9][12][13] Greenlandic prisoners already in Herstedvester were given the possibility of being transferred to the new prison in Nuuk. A large proportion have wished to serve their sentence in Denmark instead of Nuuk, typically because they want to stay in Denmark when released, feel no more connected to the Greenlandic capital than to Denmark (there are significant cultural differences between different Greenlandic regions and some inmates originate from places very far from Nuuk), or they want access to specialized treatment resources that are not available at the relatively small Greenlandic facility.[11][14] Shortly after its completion, British broadcast journalist Raphael Rowe visited the new Nuuk prison for an episode of his documentary Inside the World's Toughest Prisons, where it was noted that it was very different from other prisons he had visited, with the facilities being quite comfortable for the inmates, them having a relatiely high level of freedom within it and the overall strong focus on rehabilitation.[15]
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