Young criminals sent on Caribbean cruises

Local councils have spent a combined 40.5 million krone ($8.6 million) sending criminals and drug abusers on far-flung holidays, according to the MetroExpress newspaper. Photo / Thinkstock

Young criminals in Denmark have been sent on Caribbean cruises to try to reform their behaviour.

Local councils have spent a combined 40.5 million krone ($8.6 million) sending criminals and drug abusers on far-flung holidays, according to the MetroExpress newspaper.

Fifty-nine young criminals have reportedly spent a year or more aboard two Danish sailing ketches at a cost of around 700,000 krone each to the taxpayer.

One young offender, Christian, who robbed a convenience store, said: "I climbed volcanoes twice, went jet-skiing many times and made excursions into the jungle, although I didn't manage to completely finish my diving certificate."

Flemming Olsen, director of family affairs at Frederikssund council on the island of Zealand, who has put 12 youths on the programme, run by Den Maritime Base, a rehabilitation company, said he had no regrets.

"The Caribbean might sound like an exotic place to go, but it's important to stress that we are in no way talking about a holiday. We are doing this so that they can get away from an environment of drug abuse."

The youths were given education on the cruises and worked 12-hour days, the council said.

Christian, 22, said he had found it easy to get hold of marijuana during his year on one of the ships. "The Caribbean is probably the world's marijuana capital," said Christian, who was sent home early after threatening the ship's captain.

On his return to Denmark, he began dealing drugs then joined AK81, a street gang linked to the Hells Angels.