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A journalist was refused access to a database in a ministry because
two privately owned enterprises had copyright in the database.
In the ministry’s opinion, the enterprises might lose money if the
journalist abused his access to the database by publishing it. The
journalist lodged a complaint with the Ombudsman, who stated
that the ministry could only refuse access in order to protect
the copyright if it had good reason to believe that the journalist
would abuse his access. In the Ombudsman’s opinion, this was
not the case. He therefore recommended that the ministry
reopen the case and ask the journalist if he still wanted access
to the database.
In 2011, the Ombudsman received approx. 100 complaints
from journalists concerning refusals of requests for access to
documents pursuant to the Act on Public Access to Documents
on Public Files.
The inmates at a secure institution for criminal young people were
playing blind man’s buff. A boy was blindfolded by an employee and
had to find the employee’s mobile telephone. The boy, who had
been banned from making telephone calls, was told that he could
telephone his mother if he found the telephone. The boy found it,
but was not allowed to call. This story was uncovered during one
of the Ombudsman inspections.
The Ombudsman told the management about the incident. After
the institution had issued warnings to the employees involved and
taken various steps to avoid repeat occurrences, the Ombudsman
closed the case.
Children rarely lodge complaints with the Ombudsman them
selves, but he is nonetheless able to contribute to children’s
legal protection, for instance during inspections or when
complaints lodged by adults also involve children.
A Congolese woman and
her three-year-old child had
been refused residence in
Denmark, but the woman
was not prepared to return
voluntarily to the Democratic
Republic of Congo. They were
therefore to be deported.
A member of the Ombudsman’s deportation unit
accompanied them on the
journey to ensure that the
two police officers treated
the woman and child with
as much dignity as possible.
However, in the capital,
Kinshaha, the woman and
child were not allowed to
enter the country and they
had to return to Denmark.
The Ombudsman report
stated that the police had
acted with consideration
and discretion. On the other
hand, he commented that
the police had failed to make
a note that they had spoken
with the woman before the
deportation. The police
issued an internal reminder
emphasising the obligation
to document such things.
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