Kosovo correctional officers begin six-month assignment in Danish prisons

Twenty-three correctional officers from Kosovo have commenced a six-month work assignment at the Ringe, Vestre, and Storstrøm prisons in Denmark. Following professional training, the officers will be integrated into regular staff schedules, performing duties that include working in prison wings and moving independently through corridors.

Authorities stated the arrangement serves as staff preparation for the upcoming opening of a new prison in Gjilan, Kosovo. However, officials also acknowledged that the decision was influenced by significant staff shortages and record levels of overcrowding within the Danish correctional system during the first half of the year.

The Danish Correctional Officers’ Union has expressed opposition to the scheme. Union chairman René Larsen noted that the arrangement, which allows foreign officers to operate with keys in prison corridors, is a realization of previous warnings from union leadership. The union has advocated for addressing staffing issues through the recruitment and retention of Danish officers instead.