12 annual report 2012 At the Ombudsman institution, we use as our gauge that a case must be signi­f­icant for us to take it up. This expression is easily misunderstood, for to the individual complainant any case will of course be significant. However, by a significant case we basically mean that an individual may genuinely have become caught in the system or that the case raises some general and fundamental issues which need to be clarified. On the basis of this criterion, we reject various types of complaints. They include, for instance, cases involving minor processing errors, cases where the complaint has already largely been redressed and cases where a preliminary assessment shows that the Ombudsman is ultimately unlikely to be able to help the complainant achieve the desired result. In short, we ask ourselves: What can the Ombudsman achieve by taking up this case for investigation? As a result we reject a significant proportion of the complaints which we receive. However, we do so in order to have sufficient resources to consider the really important cases and also in order not to mislead the complainant in cases where – after thorough consideration – we do not believe that we will ultimately be able to give any real help. In such cases, we find it better to reject the complainant relatively quickly rather than raise false hopes. And of course we will always consider cases which may involve real and significant violations of justice (provided the complaints cannot be considered by other authorities first). It is therefore important not to judge us by how many cases we consider, but whether we consider the right cases and get the right results. In this connection, we have intensified our news communication at www.ombudsmanden.dk and in our newsletters in order to give the public a better opportunity to be updated on cases of interest and thereby to assess the value of our activities. More focus on own-initiative cases Pursuant to section 17 of the Ombudsman Act, the Ombudsman has the authority not only to process complaints, but also to take up cases on his own initiative. This is a very important power. Thus, quite a few people are not realistically able to lodge a complaint with the Ombudsman, but we may, for instance, become aware of their cases through the media. In addition, specific complaint cases may suggest the possibility of more systemic issues which should be brought up with the authorities. Finally, there is hardly any doubt that the possibility that