partner violence
Violence against a current or former intimate partner under Danish criminal law
Partner violence denotes violence, abuse or other degrading acts committed against a current or former intimate partner, and covers physical, psychological and sexual violence within a relationship or a former relationship. Under Danish law, the term is not an independent category of crime but a relational concept that describes the perpetrator situation rather than a distinct type of offence. Violence in such relationships is prosecuted and punished under the ordinary provisions of the Danish Penal Code (straffeloven), regardless of whether the parties are or have been in an intimate relationship.
The Danish Penal Code contains two central provisions that apply in partner violence cases: § 244 on simple assault and § 243 on psychological violence. The latter criminalises repeated degrading acts of a psychological nature against a closely related person, including a partner or former partner.
In a true crime context, the term covers a broad spectrum of cases — from systematic abuse and controlling behaviour to killings committed by a partner or former partner. The cases referred to on this site illustrate the extremes: instances where partner violence escalates into femicide or other serious violent crime.
Danish authorities and professional bodies such as the National Board of Social Services and Housing (Social- og Boligstyrelsen) use the related concept of 'violence in close relationships' (vold i nære relationer), which is somewhat broader and may also include other family members, whereas 'partner violence' refers specifically to the intimate couple relationship.
