Ret & Sikkerhed

Ret & Sikkerhed is a Danish think tank that seeks to establish itself as a debate forum for discussion of security-related threats against Denmark. Its stated purpose is to examine whether the balance between legal rights (retssikkerhed) and security is "right, skewed — or hampered by considerations that weaken the defence against the threats." The think tank was founded by a group of prominent Danish figures from defence, security, politics and media: Anja Dalgaard-Nielsen, then head of the Institute for Strategy at the Royal Danish Defence College and formerly a chief in the Danish Security and Intelligence Service (PET); Henrik Østergaard Breitenbauch, head of the Centre for Military Studies and a senior fellow at the Atlantic Council; Lars Barfoed, associated partner at Communiqué Public Relations and a former Minister of Justice; Mads Fuglede, commentator, parliamentary candidate for Venstre and former US correspondent for TV 2 NEWS; and Morten Bødskov, member of the Folketing and former Minister of Justice for the Social Democrats. The think tank attracted extensive press coverage even before holding its first event. In a 15-minute interview on Deadline on 19 March 2016, Morten Bødskov was asked to point to an example of anti-terror legislation that could be abolished because it was not in balance with citizens' legal rights and privacy; Bødskov pointed to the registration of library book loans, but backed the anti-terror packages that had been adopted and believed there was a "fine balance" between legal rights and PET's control. In an op-ed in Berlingske, the think tank called for the strategy against terror to also include interaction between several policy areas beyond justice policy, including foreign policy, social policy, education policy, and perhaps cultural policy. The following day Lars Barfoed appeared on TV 2 NEWS, where he argued for a more long-term strategic effort.

Ret & Sikkerhed is a Danish think tank that presents itself as a debate forum for discussion of security-related threats against Denmark. Its core question is whether the balance between legal rights and security is "right, skewed — or hampered by considerations that weaken the defence against the threats." The think tank was founded by five individuals with backgrounds in defence analysis, military studies, justice ministry politics and media: Anja Dalgaard-Nielsen, Henrik Østergaard Breitenbauch, Lars Barfoed, Mads Fuglede and Morten Bødskov. It received extensive press coverage even before holding its first event. On 19 March 2016, Morten Bødskov appeared in a 15-minute interview on Deadline, where he was asked to identify anti-terror legislation that could be repealed because it was not in balance with citizens' legal rights and privacy; he cited the registration of library book loans, while supporting the anti-terror packages already adopted and describing a "fine balance" between legal rights and PET's control. In a Berlingske op-ed, the think tank argued that the strategy against terror should also involve interaction between several policy areas beyond justice policy, including foreign policy, social policy, education policy and perhaps cultural policy. The following day, Lars Barfoed appeared on TV 2 NEWS advocating a more long-term strategic effort.

• Morten Bødskov interviewed on Deadline about anti-terror legislation and legal rights.

• Ret & Sikkerhed publishes an op-ed in Berlingske calling for a broader, cross-sectoral anti-terror strategy.

• Lars Barfoed appears on TV 2 NEWS advocating a more long-term strategic effort.

Non-profit think tank and public debate forum on security and legal rights in Denmark.

1. 1Ret & Sikkerhed – Wikipedia (Danish)da.wikipedia.org
2. 2Ret & Sikkerhed – Wikidatawikidata.org