Copenhagen’s ten most expensive criminal families cost the municipality an average of DKK 2.5 million each in 2023, primarily for public transfers and social measures. This revelation comes from a calculation by the Finance Administration in Copenhagen Municipality, highlighting the significant financial burden of clan-based crime.

The total cost for these families, comprising 35 individuals, reached DKK 25 million in 2023 alone. These expenses covered various services, including child placements, transfers, and other social support programs. Over the past decade, members of these ten families have accumulated 133 charges and 26 convictions.

The crimes committed by these families primarily involve violations of drug laws, property crimes like vandalism or burglary, and other offenses under the penal code. The issue of multi-criminal families extends beyond Copenhagen, with other cities like Odense also grappling with similar problems.

Copenhagen’s Employment and Integration Mayor, Jens-Kristian Lütken, expressed frustration at not being able to access the names of the families that are costing the municipality a fortune, which makes targeted intervention even harder. Lütken supports the initiative to equate criminal clans with gangs, to provide opportunities for harsher punishments and more targeted efforts.

According to research professor Lars Højsgaard Andersen, the calculation underscores the significant social expenses associated with certain families, testing the limits of the welfare system. Families involved in crime also require substantial social resources, highlighting the intertwined nature of crime and social issues.