Situation
Copenhagen Municipality has conducted its annual safety survey since 2009, and on this strong basis the municipality has been able to track developments in residents’ sense of safety and crime levels, both for the municipality as a whole and in its local areas. The survey covers several dimensions of safety, including general safety in the neighbourhood, safety in the evening and night-time hours, concerns about crime, and trust in help from the neighbourhood and the authorities.
Complication
The surveys have been used for more than a decade to monitor developments, but an additional analytical layer is needed to understand the stories behind the figures: What influences Copenhageners’ sense of safety? Why are there local differences in experiences of safety across the city’s different districts? And how do different factors affect the sense of safety, particularly during the evening and night-time hours?
Recommendation
Results from the Safety Survey show a high general sense of safety among Copenhageners. However, the Safety Survey has documented an increase in the number of young people who feel unsafe. The analysis, which was carried out in 2025, therefore aimed to gain a deeper understanding of young people’s experience of feeling unsafe. The study shows that the sense of safety among young Copenhageners is particularly challenged during the evening and night-time hours, when darkness, deserted areas and certain stations are perceived as unsafe. Young women in particular report unwanted attention and boundary-crossing behaviour, while young men experience confrontations with other groups. At the same time, young people highlight that well-lit and well-frequented areas, as well as easy access to transport such as the metro, buses and cycling options, contribute significantly to their sense of safety. The results therefore indicate that lighting, activity and good transport options play an important role in creating safer settings for young people.
