Denmark's new largest prison inaugurated: Come inside a cell

Denmark's new largest prison opened: Take a look inside a cell

Sdr. Omme Prison (https://www.dr.dk/nyheder/indland)

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*Den new Danish largest prison opened:* Come inside a cell

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Sdr. Omme Prison now has room for 422 inmates, but recruiting personnel is a challenge, it sounds.

DR's reporter Andreas Holm Hansen visited one of the new prison cells earlier today. 12 minutes ago

A single bed, TV, desk, and private toilet with shower. At first glance, the room resembles a college dormitory.

But it is a prison cell. A spartan one of its kind in Sdr. Omme Prison.

Today, a new closed prison was indeed inaugurated in the southwest Jutland town, which is now Denmark's largest prison with 422 cells in total.

Previously, the prison consisted of an open ward with room for 222 inmates. But now there is room for an additional 200 in a closed prison.

The inauguration was marked earlier today with a reception in the prison's new sports hall. Here, Ina Eliasen, director of Danish Prisons, handed over the keys to the new prison to Anne Therkelsen, prison chief of Sdr. Ommes Prisons.

- It's almost like a festive day, it sounds from Ina Eliasen.

- We need space, and these spaces have been delivered on time, within budget, and they are really good spaces.

* A look inside one of the 200 new cells in Sdr. Omme Prison. (Photo: © Asta Holst Bach DR)

* The inmates have desks and a refrigerator. (Photo: © Asta Holst Bach DR)

* Cells have bathrooms with showers. (Photo: © Asta Holst Bach DR)

* The new prison also has common rooms with kitchens, which belong to the cells.

1 / 4 A look inside one of the 200 new cells in Sdr. Omme Prison. (Photo: © Asta Holst Bach DR) 1 / 4 The inmates have desks and a refrigerator. (Photo: © Asta Holst Bach DR) 2 / 4 Cells have bathrooms with showers. (Photo: © Asta Holst Bach DR) 3 / 4 The new prison also has common rooms with kitchens, which belong to the cells. 4 / 4

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Inmates sit two in a cell

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In the first instance, 78 inmates will be transferred to Sdr. Omme Prison.

The first ones arrive already on Monday, and the extra cells are needed, says Ina Eliasen.

- One of the most obvious examples is that we have two men sitting in a single cell. It's really hard for the inmates, and it's really hard for the staff.

It is exactly the inmates who, at the present time, sit two in a cell, who will be transferred to the new prison in Sdr. Omme.

- That's something we're going to start working on, says Ina Eliasen.

But even though 200 prison cells make a difference, it does not solve the problem of space in Denmark's prisons, acknowledges Ina Eliasen.

- That's why we are also building many other places. But it's clear that 200 cells are something we can feel.

It has significance for the entire country that 200 new cells are coming to Sdr. Omme, says Ina Eliasen, director of Danish Prisons, in the clip here:

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A challenge to recruit prison staff

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In the coming time, approximately 20 inmates will be transferred to Sdr. Omme per week, until one of the prison's three new buildings with 78 cells is filled up.

But when the prison does not fill all 200 cells at once, the challenge is also about ensuring that we have uniformed staff, says Anne Therkelsen, prison chief of Sdr. Ommes Prisons.

- For the first round, that is, the 78 cells we have opened now, we have the staff we need.

- But when we open gradually, it's not least to ensure that we have uniformed staff enough. Because it is, of course, something we lack.

Do you risk standing in a situation where you cannot recruit enough trained prison staff to cover the 200 new cells?

- It's clear that there is a shortage of prison staff on a national level. But we can also see that there is a record high new intake just now here.

- So I am optimistic and think that we will manage. But it's clear that we have a challenge there, says Anne Therkelsen.

Anne Therkelsen, who is prison chief for Sdr. Ommes prisons, is optimistic about recruiting staff for the new prison. (Photo: © Asta Holst Bach DR)

The 200 new cells in Sdr. Omme are distributed in three buildings. Two with room for 78 inmates each and one with room for 44. In addition, there are workshops and school buildings on the site.

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