Denmark's approach to solving homicides centers on a specialized national unit rarely discussed in international crime coverage. The Rejseholdet—literally "the traveling team"—functions as the Royal Danish Police's dedicated murder investigation service, deploying across the country to assist local departments with complex cases that exceed regional capacity.
In the latest episode of the long-running Danish true crime podcast "Danske Drabssager" (Danish Murder Cases), host Stine Bolther interviews Kurt Kragh, a retired detective who rose to deputy head of this elite division. Released in March 2026, the Season 14 episode marks a shift from case-specific storytelling toward institutional examination—exploring how modern murder investigations actually work behind closed doors.
Kragh's career spans decades of Denmark's most serious crimes. Unlike many true crime interviews that focus on sensational details, this conversation centers on methodology: how investigators approach crime scenes, develop suspect profiles, and construct cases strong enough to withstand Scandinavian legal scrutiny. The Danish justice system, like other Nordic countries, maintains rigorous evidentiary standards that can make murder convictions genuinely difficult to secure, even with circumstantial evidence that might suffice elsewhere.
A central theme throughout the podcast is the psychology of murderers themselves. Kragh and Bolther explore how investigators must think like the perpetrator—understanding motive hierarchies, behavioral patterns, and decision-making processes. This psychological dimension separates modern Scandinavian homicide work from purely forensic detection. While Denmark adopted advanced DNA and digital forensics gradually compared to Anglo-American jurisdictions, its investigative culture has long emphasized offender profiling and behavioral analysis.
The Rejseholdet model reflects broader Scandinavian policing philosophy. Rather than establishing a permanent FBI-equivalent agency (as in the United States) or relying on regional serious crime squads (as in the UK), Denmark created a mobile task force that maintains institutional memory while remaining embedded within local police structures. This hybrid approach allows for specialized expertise without creating a separate federal police apparatus—a deliberate choice reflecting Nordic governance preferences.
Kragh discusses how investigators build cases against defendants in a legal system where Denmark's conviction rates for serious crimes remain lower than comparable democracies. The Danish penal code emphasizes established fact over prosecutorial narrative, requiring investigators to develop airtight evidence chains. This creates particular challenges in cases involving circumstantial evidence, sexual violence, or crimes where forensic material is limited.
