The police, social services, and psychiatry (PSP) cooperation as a platform for dealing with concerns of radicalization

Abstract

The police, social services, and psychiatry (PSP) is a structured cooperation between the police, social services, and the psychiatric system in Denmark. The aim of PSP is to ensure that relevant information is shared and supportive measures enhanced concerning citizens at risk, and it involves PSP representatives from each sector meeting frequently. PSP is implemented nationwide by law. In recent years, dealing with radicalization and the threat of terrorism have become key issues in society. The PSP cooperation already facilitates the identification of citizens at many kinds of risk (e.g. suicide, substance abuse, social decline, mental illness), and coordinates relevant intervention and treatment. The existing PSP cooperation is, therefore, an obvious forum for identifying and handling concerns of radicalization and extremism. The new working model includes an upgrade of all local PSP groups and an implementation of a nationwide evaluation of the initiative. This is a presentation of the working model and the experiences in practice.

Keywords:

• Radicalization awareness
• working practice
• PSP cooperation
• radicalization

Acknowledgements

The authors would like to thank Anne Groule, Academic Secretary, Ministry of Justice, Clinic of Forensic Psychiatry, Denmark, for her help in the process of preparing this paper for submission.

Disclosure statement

No potential conflict of interest was reported by the authors.