Police presentation

Police presentation is a legal term that covers the bailiff court's ability to request the police to pick up a debtor who should have appeared in the bailiff court but did not show up.

Production can also be used if a witness in a court case fails to appear without legal reason. However, this is regulated in section 17 of the Administration of Justice Act.

When to use a police presentation?

The bailiff court can use police production if the bailiff court considers it necessary for a citizen to attend an agreed meeting and has not reported a so-called legal absence; for example, illness.

For example, police presentment is used if a debtor fails to show up for a debt collection case in the enforcement court.

What does the law say about police presentations?

Police presentations in the enforcement court are regulated in section 494(2) of the Administration of Justice Act. This states that if the debtor fails to appear and the failure to appear is not lawful, the enforcement court may order the debtor to be taken into custody by the police until he can be brought before the enforcement court.

In the case of the absence of a witness in court proceedings, Article 178 of the Code of Civil Procedure applies.

How to avoid a police line-up?

Basically, the Code of Civil Procedure allows the bailiff court to ask the police to collect a debtor in case of any unlawful failure to appear before the bailiff court.

Therefore, if you want to avoid a police appearance, our advice is that you clearly communicate to the enforcement court if you have been prevented from attending the enforcement court and that you give notice well in advance of your enforcement court hearing.

How many police presentations are made each year?

There are no public figures or statistics on how many police presentations are made in Denmark - neither by the Danish police nor by the Danish courts.

But on average, more than 250,000 bailiff cases are concluded every year in Denmark. However, we believe that there are at least a few thousand police presentations every year.