Norwegian Police Service
| National Police Directorate Politi- og lensmannsetaten | |
|---|---|
 | |
| Common name | Politi |
| Agency overview | |
| Employees | 11,000 |
| Jurisdictional structure | |
| National agency | Norway |
| Operations jurisdiction | Norway |
| General nature | |
| Operational structure | |
| Minister responsible | |
| Agency executive |
|
| Parent agency | Police Department |
| National units | 7 |
| Politidistrikt (Police District)s | 27 politidistrikt |
| Website | |
| Norwegian English | |
The Norwegian Police Service (Template:Lang-no) is the official police force in Norway which are run by the Minister of Justice and Police. The department consists of 27 regional areas and seven national special forces. The department has about 11,000 employees.
The police districts consist of police stations and district offices. Police stations are led by a chief of police who is responsible for the geographical district around his precinct. Each police regional district has its own police commissioner who is the leader of that district's police practice.
The Norwegian Prosecuting Authority is partially integrated with the police. The police officers investigate the crime, and in most cases the police attorneys working in the Prosecuting Authority in the police decide if they should take the case to court, and then argue the case. In the most serious cases, prosecution is handled directly by the Public Prosecutors, who are not part of the police.
The Norwegian Military Police and Home Guard have authority over civilians only in a few situations, and leave criminal investigation to the civilian police service. Some military and civilian agencies also have limited police authority to direct traffic and stop and search persons and vehicles (such as vehicle safety inspections, or hunting and fishing inspections). If a violation is found, the case is forwarded to the police service for investigation.
The police are also a part of the Norwegian rescue service and are responsible for leading the rescue work on accidents and disasters. This is especially an issue in the western part of Norway where there can be rather extreme weather at sea. This work is being done via two main dispatch centrals in Stavanger and Bodø. In this work, the police can request assistance from military and civilian agencies, as well as from non-governmental organizations.
In addition, the police have main responsibility for border security and passport control at border crossing points.[1]
Norwegian police do not carry firearms on a daily basis; they keep them locked down in the patrol cars, and if need arises they have to get permission by the police commissioner or someone authorized by him or her. If there is no time to contact a superior, a police officer may arm himself and anyone under his command. From 1994 to 2004 the Norwegian police fired approximately 79 shots; 48 of these were fired during the Nokas Robbery in 2004. [2]
As a part of the anti-terror work after the September 11, 2001 attacks, every regional area has its own mobile unit which is specially trained to handle these types of missions.
History
On August 13, 2012 the 7/22 Commission Report (Rapport fra 22. juli kommisjonen) was released, including its criticism of the manner in which the police service is organized.[3]
On August 16, 2012 the director general of police (politidirektør) was forced out of office, followed by a former prime minister Kåre Willoch arguing that future directors should have experience as police officers.[4]
Organization
It answers to the director general (politidirektør) at National Police Directorate (POD).
It has
- 27 Police districts
- Rural police districts
- Local police stations
- National Criminal Investigation Service (NCIS, Kripos)
- International Police Immigration Service (PU)
- National Police Computing and Material Service
- Norwegian Police University College
- National Authority for Investigation and Prosecution of Economic and Environmental Crime (Økokrim)
- Central Mobile Police Service (UP)
- The Norwegian Border Commissioner for the Norwegian-Russian Border
- Police Security Service (PST)
- National Bodyguard Subsection
Employment controversy
The Norwegian Police Service labour union[citation needed], Politiets Fellesforbund, have been full member of European Confederation of Police, EuroCOP, since the constitution in 2002. The union have 12,000 member, close to all the employees of the National Police Force, from all police units and special units, of all police ranks.
In 2009, the union was in a disagreement with the Norwegian government, the Norwegian Ministry of Justice and Police and the National Police Directorate over working conditions and wage. As a result of an unresolved situation, at 27. January 2009, 12,000 police officers in Norway participated in a national 90-minute strike. The union was protesting against the government’s decision to control police work hours without negotiating with their representatives, and prolonging the periode of the current Police Commissioner .[5] The Police Union called for Justice and Police Minister Knut Storberget to resign.[5] 25. March 2009 4,000 uniformed members of the Norwegian Police Service union paraded the main streets of Oslo in a protest march to the Norwegian Parliament.[6][7][8] The police union is using the term 'police crisis' to describe the situation. The counter part is using the term 'illegal wage negotiation'.
Police misconduct in Norway
- See main article Police misconduct in Norway
The death of Eugene Ejike Obiora, a naturalized Norwegian of Nigerian origin in September 2006 was followed by criticism that caused the authorities to announce changes to the way charges of police brutality and other forms of police misconduct, including corruption[citation needed] involving the Norwegian police will be handled in the future.
In 2011, the Police District of Oslo said they were sorry for "not having followed the book" during a non-consentual police search of doctor Shuaib Lwasa (a United Nations employee).[9]
Calling the Police in Norway
- Emergencies: ☎ 112
- Nearest police authority in Norway: ☎ 02800
Regional districts
- Oslo Police District, covering Oslo county.
- Østfold Police District, covering Østfold county.
- Follo Police District, covering the southern parts of Akershus county and northeastern Østfold.
- Romerike Police District, covering the northern parts of Akershus county.
- Hedmark Police District, covering Hedmark county.
- Gudbrandsdal Police District, covering the northern parts of Oppland, the Gudbrandsdal valley.
- Vestoppland Police District, covering the southern and western parts of Oppland county.
- Nordre Buskerud Police District, covering the northern part of Buskerud county.
- Søndre Buskerud Police District, covering the southern part of Buskerud county.
- Asker og Bærum Police District, covering Asker and Bærum municipalities.
- Vestfold Police District, covering Vestfold county.
- Telemark Police District, covering Telemark county.
- Agder Police District, covering Vest-Agder and Aust-Agder.
- Rogaland Police District, covering Rogaland except Haugaland.
- Haugaland og Sunnhordland Police District, covering the southern parts of Hordaland and northern parts of Rogaland, around Haugesund.
- Hordaland Police District, covering Hordaland county and municipalities Solund and Gulen in Sogn og Fjordane county.
- Sogn og Fjordane Police District, covering Sogn og Fjordane county except Solund and Gulen.
- Sunnmøre Police District, covering the southern parts of Møre og Romsdal county.
- Nordmøre og Romsdal Police District, covering the northern and central parts of Møre og Romsdal county.
- Sør-Trøndelag Police District, covering Sør-Trøndelag county.
- Nord-Trøndelag Police District, covering Nord-Trøndelag county.
- Helgeland Police District, covering the southern parts of Nordland county.
- Salten Police District, covering the central parts of Nordland county.
- Midtre Hålogaland Police District, covering Central Hålogaland—the western parts of Troms county and northern Nordland county, including Lofoten except Værøy and Røst.
- Troms Police District, covering Troms, except the western parts.
- Vestfinnmark Police District, covering the western parts of Finnmark county.
- Østfinnmark Police District, covering the eastern parts of Finnmark county.
Special Units of Oslo Police Department with national responsibilities
- Contingency Platoon (Delta)
- Royal Police Escort
- Helicopter Service
Police attorney ranks
- Politimester (Chief of Police) ¹
- Politiadvokat (Police Prosecutor) ¹
- Politifullmektig (Junior Police Prosecutor) ¹
Police ranks
- Politidirektør (National Police Commissioner ) ¹
- Assisterende politidirektør (Deputy National Police Commissioner ) ¹
- Politimester (Chief of Police) ¹
- Visepolitimester (Deputy Chief of Police) ¹
- Politiinspektør (Assistant Chief of Police) ¹
- Politioverbetjent (Police Superintendent)
- Politiførstebetjent (Police Chief Inspector)
- Politibetjent 3 (Police Inspector)
- Politibetjent 2 (Police Sergeant)
- Politibetjent 1 (Police Constable)
¹ Attorney.
Notable deaths of officers
- 2011: One officer was killed during the Utøya massacre while he was on sick leave[10], working under conditions of "private paid" («privatbetalt overtid») overtime at a political rally unrelated to his duties at Politiets utlendingsenhet.[11] (Trond Berntsen was stepbrother of Norway's Crown Princess.[12])
- 2004: One officer was shot to death during the NOKAS robbery on April 5 - Arne Sigve Klungeland.[citation needed]
- 1998: Two officers died during one police call at Austbø on March 11.[citation needed]
A total of 23 police officers have been killed or died in service (including traffic accidents) since World War II.[13][14]
Equipment
Volkswagen Passat continued as the official patrol car in 2011, as a result of a call for bids that was questionable (omdiskutert)[15] according to Aftenposten.
Weaponry
- Heckler & Koch P30 semi-automatic pistol[16]
- Heckler & Koch MP5 submachine gun
- Diemaco C8 assault rifle
References
- ^ List of national services responsible for border control
- ^ Justis og politidepartementets offisielle tall for bevæpning og skudd avfyrt av politiet
- ^ "Here are the police answers that the commission disagees with" (in Norwegian). nrk. 2012-08-14.
- ^ http://www.dagbladet.no/2012/08/17/nyheter/politikk/innenriks/oystein_meland/kare_willoch/22996827/
- ^ a b http://www.thaindian.com/newsportal/uncategorized/norwegian-police-stage-90-minute-strike_100148822.html
- ^ http://www.monstersandcritics.com/news/business/news/article_1456276.php/Norwegian_police_union_to_strike_
- ^ http://www.norwaypost.no/content/view/21556/1/
- ^ http://www.dagbladet.no/2009/04/02/nyheter/innenriks/oslo/politiaksjon/arne_johannessen/5579262/ "Reminding of a State Coup"
- ^ (translation of title: UN researcher furious after being searched by police on Oslo's main street — His hands were in his pockets because he was freezing. Police thought he concealed narcotics. Now the police apologize for the search.) "FN-forsker rasende etter å ha blitt ransaket av politiet på Karl Johan — Hadde hendene i lommene fordi han frøs på hendene. Politiet trodde han skjulte narkotika. Nå beklager politiet ransakingen." "- Var ransakingen ulovlig? — Visepolitimester Sveinung Sponheim - Den var ikke direkte ulovlig, men ikke etter boken. Politiet har anledning til å spørre etter ID, men man har ikke plikt til å bære på seg ID. Da var vel grunnlaget for å gå i lommene hans og ransake ganske tynt, sier han."
- ^ http://www.nrk.no/227/dag-for-dag/mener-berntsen-burde-blitt-hedret-1.8099247
- ^ http://www.vg.no/nyheter/innenriks/oslobomben/artikkel.php?artid=10080736 "Tobarnsfaren, politimannen og kronprinsesse Mette-Marits stebror, var på AUFs sommerleir på Utøya som frivillig, sivil vakt, slik han hadde vært i flere år, Han var også i år leid inn på såkalt «privatbetalt overtid». Tjenestemannen, som jobber i Politiets utlendingsenhet, hadde tatt med seg sin 10-årige sønn på arrangementet."
- ^ http://www.vg.no/nyheter/innenriks/oslobomben/artikkel.php?artid=10080736
- ^ "Ti politimenn drept siden krigen". Dagbladet (in Norwegian). 2010-03-04. Retrieved 2010-04-21.
{{cite news}}: Cite has empty unknown parameter:|coauthors=(help) - ^ "Politiet.org" (in Norwegian). Retrieved 2010-04-22.
- ^ Wisløff, Harald (2012-01-02). "(translation of title: — Embarrassing to arrive with this car — The rust heap causes attention)". Aftenposten (in Norwegian).
- ^ Politet legger vekk revolveren (Norwegian)
External links
- The Police in Norway, brochure by the Norwegian National Police Directorate (POD, June 2010).
- The OSCE Policing OnLine Information System (POLIS) - Country profile: Norway
- Police and prosecution - StatRes, Statistics Norway.
- Official web site of the police labour union, Politiets Fellesforbund
- "Were you or I, the police director? Unresolved: After the terror attacks, Vidar Refvik and Øystein Mæland did not know which one of them was the police director. The minister of justice did not know either" (in Norwegian). Dagsavisen. 2012-08-14.
- "Here are the police answers that the commission disagees with" (in Norwegian). nrk. 2012-08-14.
- "- Chemically cleansed of police background. Trade union leader Arne Johannessen says that there is a great lack of competency relating to politifag among the top leaders of the police" (in Norwegian). Dagbladet. 2012-08-16.
- "The police said this: July 22: Read how the police portrayed their own aksjon on the day of terro, and how it was refuted by the 7/22 Commission" (in Norwegian). Dagsavisen. 2012-08-16.