The Police in Norway

Transcription

1 The Police in Norway

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3 Contents Organisation of the National Police in Norway 5 National Police Directorate 6 Local police 8 Norway s regional police districts 9 Locally anchored and knowledge-based police 11 Special units 15 District Governor of Svalbard 21 International cooperation 22 Norwegian Police on foreign assignments CIVPOL 26 Organised crime 27 Crime trends in Norway 28 Organisation of the police and prosecuting authority in Norway 29 Crime and punishment 31 National population survey and opportunities for appeal 33 Police where you are 34 / Graphic production: RMgrafika, Moss, Printing: Allkopi, Translation: Amesto Translations AS 3

4 Police work is varied and affects many parts of society. Our work also attracts community interest, as is evident from the many inquiries and questions we receive every day. The Norwegian Police Service s best resource is the around 13,000 employees in the service. Their efforts in achieving our common goal, to prevent and fight crime, are invaluable. They perform work that is highly respected, despite the limited resources and the fact that they work under a great deal of pressure in many situations. I hope that this brochure will help the public and our partners understand how the Norwegian Police is organised, how we work, and what special challenges we are facing in Norway today. Ingelin Killengreen / National Police Commissioner Ingelin Killengreen 4

5 Organisation of the police in Norway Ministry of Justice and the Police Norwegian Police Security Service National Police Directorate 27 regional police districts National Criminal Investigation Service (Kripos) National Police Immigration Service District Governor of Svalbard National Police Computing and Material Service Norwegian Police University College National Authority for Investigation and Prosecution of Economic and Environmental Crime in Norway (Økokrim) Rural police stations Local police stations National Mobile Police Service Norwegian Border Commissioner Execution and enforcement commissioners 5

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7 National Police Directorate The National Police Directorate is under the Ministry of Justice and the Police. The primary task of the National Police Directorate is professional management, supervision and development of the Norwegian police within the framework stipulated by the Ministry. The National Police Directorate is responsible for the management and supervision of the regional police districts and the special police units with around 13,000 employees. In addition, the National Police Directorate plays a central role in the fight against international and organised crime. The Directorate, including the Oslo Execution and Enforcement Authority, has just over 200 employees. The establishment of the National Police Directorate in 2001 was an important step in a major efficiency enhancement and development process within the Norwegian Police Service. The goal is to secure a democratic development of the Norwegian Police Service, clarify responsibilities and authority, and to establish broad operative and professional management for optimal exploitation of the available resources. The National Police Directorate plays an important role in this development work. The tasks of the National Police Directorate fall into the following categories: / coordination of the goals, plans and work of the regional police districts and the special units / management of the police service / personnel and organisational development / support and supervisory duties / emergency preparedness / administrative tasks / administration of complaints 7

8 Local police The Norwegian Police Service has around 13,000 employees. Collectively they make up a uniform police force. The force is based on versatile police training that makes the Norwegian police capable of solving all types of police tasks. Trained police can work with anything ranging from investigations to patrolling and public order policing. In addition, the police have specialists and special units in various fields. The Norwegian Police Service is divided into 27 regional police districts. Each of these districts is divided further into local and rural police station districts. Each regional police district is headed by a chief of police who is responsible for all of the police duties, budgets and results. The number of solved cases, time spent on administrative procedures and preventative work are examples of areas where the results can be measured. Local and rural police stations are underlying units headed by police chief superintendents. Some districts have their own execution and enforcement authority, which is headed by an execution and enforcement commissioner. This applies primarily to the largest cities. In other districts it is the police chief superintendents who perform the execution and enforcement tasks in their local districts. Each regional police district has its own administration and a joint operations centre. The operations centre receives all the reports concerning accidents, emergency situations, other dangerous situations and whenever there is a need for immediate assistance. Here they keep track of almost everything that is happening in the district, and they can quickly direct police patrols and others who are on duty to where they are needed. 1 Oslo 2 Østfold 3 Follo 4 Romerike 5 Hedmark 6 Gudbrandsdal 7 Vestoppland 8 Nordre Buskerud 9 Søndre Buskerud 10 Asker og Bærum 11 Vestfold 12 Telemark 13 Agder 14 Rogaland 15 Haugaland og Sunnhordland 16 Hordaland 17 Sogn og Fjordane 18 Sunnmøre 19 Nordmøre og Romsdal 20 Sør-Trøndelag 8

9 Norway s regional police districts Svalbard 21 Nord-Trøndelag 22 Helgeland 23 Salten 24 Midtre Hålogaland 25 Troms 26 Vestfinnmark 27 Østfinnmark 9

10 Number of employees in the Norwegian Police Service Legal positions Civilian positions Police officer positions Budget NOK 1 million Budget

11 Locally anchored and knowledge-based police The Norwegian police should be locally anchored and work in a knowledge-based manner. Local anchoring should ensure the population has a good availability of police services, a good overview of local challenges and good interaction and cooperation with the population and key partners. Strategic and operative analysis should be performed through the methodical collection, processing, systemisation and analysis of information. This forms the foundation for prioritising what areas should be focused on and determining strategies for both the short and long term. Goal-oriented measures must subsequently be planned, implemented and evaluated in a systematic manner. Problem-oriented police work is a key methodical approach, which involves all the employees and can be utilised regardless of the type of challenge. Mobile units Each police district has its own mobile units, which are especially trained to handle armed and difficult missions. These units also provide security in extraordinary situations. While mobile unit officers are integrated into the round-the-clock uniformed service, they perform as a separate unit when the mission dictates. National Police Dog Patrol The regional police districts have their own dog and handler teams used for patrol duties and in narcotics cases. The police also have their own search and rescue dogs. These dogs are approved for avalanche and ruin searches, and they are also trained to smell dead bodies. The Oslo police district has specialised dogs to search for bombs, for example. National Police Sea Service The use of pleasure boats is increasing, and the number of accidents is too high. To improve safety at sea, a visible police force should perform supervisory activities that are apt to have a preventive effect and increase the level of safety in coastal areas. It is the chiefs of police who are responsible for the sea services in their districts. The police operate patrol boats in coastal waters and inland lakes, and they focus in particular on intoxicated drivers and speeding. In addition, the serv- 11

12 ice has duties associated with the prevention and investigation of various criminal activities and environmental monitoring. Reindeer Police The Reindeer Police is a unit that carries out police duties associated with reindeer husbandry in Finnmark and Troms. In addition, the Reindeer Police are also supposed to combat crimes against nature and the environment in Finnmark and Nord- Troms, an area of around 56,000 square kilometres. The Reindeer Police was established in 1950 to protect Sami reindeer husbandry. The Reindeer Police s tasks are related primarily to the actual reindeer husbandry, and the Reindeer Police s presence during the commingling, separation, branding and slaughter of reindeer is important. Contact with the industry is decisive for the Reindeer Police s opportunity to form a picture of potential conflicts and areas of conflict. A few years after the unit s establishment, the Reindeer Police were also made responsible for both police and supervisory tasks in connection with crimes against nature and the environment. The unit currently has supervisory tasks related, for example, to salmon fishing along the coast and illegal snowmobile and ATV operation. Oslo Police District s specialised services The Oslo police district has organised units for performing specialised tasks and to assist other police districts in several different areas. Currently, the Norwegian police have two helicopters. The helicopter service is under the Oslo Police District, but it assists other districts and special units as required. The helicopters are used for traffic monitoring, rescue operations and during apprehensions. The main helicopter is equipped for monitoring and surveillance. It is outfitted with communication technology, as well as advanced video and heatseeking cameras. The other helicopter is used mainly for transport, and it can carry up to four passengers with personal and special equipment. The helicopter service is affiliated with the Oslo Police District, but it also assists other police districts and special units as required. The Oslo Police District is also responsible for the national anti-terrorism unit, 12

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14 the Emergency Response Unit. This unit is the police s special deployment unit for hostage, terror and sabotage situations. The crisis and hostage negotiation service represents the police s special negotiation expertise in terror, hostage and kidnapping situations. The police s bomb squad is organised under the dog patrol service in the Oslo Police District, and it has national responsibility for all forms of bomb threats and findings of explosives and bombs. The mobile deployment concept is used for coordinating joint efforts when violent demonstrations with rioting and criminal damage are anticipated. Great importance is attached to dialogue with the organisers prior to the demonstrations. The Police Negotiation Unit is advisor to The Royal Ministry of Foreign Affairs (MFA) in country on effective siege management and negotiation strategy and tactics for kidnap siege and barricades. The Oslo Police District also has national assistance responsibility for protection of the royal family. In addition, the police district has its own mounted police, who can also offer assistance to the districts. 14

15 Special units In addition to the local police, Norway has seven special units that are organised directly under the National Police Directorate. They offer assistance to the regional police districts and some of the special units have prosecuting authority. National Criminal Investigation Service (Kripos), the national unit for combating organised and other serious crimes. Kripos is the police s national centre of expertise in the fight against organised and other serious crimes. The primary task of Kripos is to offer assistance to the police districts and be the national point of contact for foreign countries. Kripos is a central assistance unit with special expertise in tactical and technical investigation, and it is an advisory body for the central authorities. In addition to being an assistance unit, Kripos is responsible for investigating and bringing complex and serious cases related to organised crime to court. With regard to investigation and prosecution, Kripos is under the National Authority for Prosecution of Organised and Other Serious Crime. Around half of the employees in Kripos are police personnel, while the remainder are civilian employees, primarily administrative officers, engineers, technologists, laboratory assistants and administrative personnel. Kripos s main fields of work: / Tactical investigations / Technical investigations / Criminal intelligence / International police cooperation Kripos has the national leading specialists in technical computer investigations, as well as securing and analysing electronic evidence and clues. Kripos also heads the national identification group, which is mobilised in the event of accidents and disasters. Special units / Norwegian Border Commissioner / National Criminal Investigation Service (Kripos), the national unit for combating organised and other serious crimes. / National Police Computing and Material Service / Norwegian Police University College / National Police Immigration Service / National Mobile Police Service / National Authority for Investigation and Prosecution of Economic and Environmental Crime in Norway (Økokrim) 15

16 National Authority for Investigation and Prosecution of Economic and Environmental Crime in Norway (Økokrim) Økokrim was established in 1989 and is both a special police unit and a public prosecutor with national authority. Økokrim investigates and brings major, complex, more serious and/or fundamental cases concerning economic or environmental crime to court. As a public prosecutor, Økokrim is under the Director General of Public Prosecutions. As a central police unit, Økokrim is administratively and budgetarily under the National Police Directorate. In the area of economic and environmental crime, Økokrim must: / Identify, investigate, prosecute and bring their own cases to court / Assist national and foreign police and prosecuting authorities / Raise the level of the police s and prosecuting authorities expertise and provide educational activities / Engage in criminal intelligence work, especially the receipt and analysis of reports on suspicious transactions / Be the advisory body for central authorities / Participate in international cooperation Investigations are conducted by inter-disciplinary teams, and each team has its own special area of responsibility. Most of the teams are headed by a chief public prosecutor. Norwegian Police University College The Norwegian Police University College is the central educational institution for the Norwegian Police Service. The University College offers a three-year higher education programme that leads to a bachelor s degree. The education is vocationally oriented and provides a broad theoretical and practical foundation for police work. The University College also offers a master s degree in police science. This is a 120 credit experience-based programme that satisfies the need for higher analysis and research expertise in the police. The goal of further and continuing education at the Norwegian Police University College is to develop important expertise for 16

17 employees in the Norwegian Police Service. The educational programmes should cover the areas where the need for new knowledge and professional updating is greatest. The Norwegian Police University College carries out extensive research and development work. Critical and constructive research should contribute to making the police more knowledge-based. Police research also contributes knowledge to the central authorities and our society as a whole. National Police Immigration Service The National Police Immigration Service is the Norwegian police s centre of expertise and assistance body for immigration cases. The primary task of the National Police Immigration Service is to register and identify asylum seekers who arrive in Norway. In addition, the unit coordinates the return of asylum seekers who have had their asylum applications rejected. Knowledge of geography, countries, languages and different cultures is a core qualification that is decisive for whether the immigration service can perform its duties efficiently and with a high level of quality. This applies with regard to asylum registration, identity investigations and return transport. National Mobile Police Service The mobile service carries out police duties on the roads, where the primary tasks are road safety work, crime prevention, assistance and emergency preparedness. The primary task is to reduce the number of serious accidents by preventing violation of the traffic laws. The mobile service s supervisory activities are aimed at risk factors associated with driving behaviour (speed, intoxication and not using seat belts) and driver risk groups that represent a potential hazard in traffic. There is an association between traffic safety work and crime prevention on the roads, and the mobile service cooperates closely with the police districts and special units in order to exchange intelligence, and prevent and solve crimes. The mobile service is a significant resource for assistance with a high degree of mobility and expertise that the police districts can make use of dur- 17

18 ing extraordinary events and crises. The mobile service has the administrative responsibility for the police reserves, which is the police s national resource for reinforcement. The mobile service is organised with a head office in Stavern and 10 regional districts, each with a district head, who performs duties in all of Norway s police districts. A total of 300 active policemen/women have been seconded from Norway s police districts. The patrols perform uniformed and civilian police duties in order to create greater safety and more satisfaction in traffic. The mobile service participates in national and international cooperation programmes in the area of traffic safety, such as TISPOL and SANT. Norwegian Border Commissioner The Border Commissioner s primary task is to oversee that the border agreement and other agreements that regulate the border situation between Norway and Russia are fulfilled by both parties. Together with the police and the Norwegian Armed Forces, the duty of the Border Commission is to prevent and limit the scope of incidents that are in violation of the applicable agreements and to negotiate with the Russian border authorities to resolve any conflicts and incidents. In connection with Norway s entry into the Schengen cooperation, Norway acquired additional obligations with regard to guarding and securing the external border with Russia. National Police Computing and Material Service The National Police Computing and Material Service is the police s national centre of expertise in the field of ICT, materials, communication, procurement and security, as well as real estate, buildings and construction management. The computing and material service is often described as the police s toolbox. The computing and material service procures, develops and manages the police s joint ICT solutions, develops operational police materials and manages the police s communication solutions, in addition to advising the Norwegian Police Service with regard to property management. 18

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20 Foto: Jill Gaustad

21 District Governor of Svalbard The District Governor of Svalbard is the Government s highest representative on the archipelago. This unit is unique in Norway with an environmental protection department, police department and several other fields in the same organisation. This police department consists of permanent chief inspectors and one superintendent. In the summer season the department is strengthened by several officers and field inspectors. The police on Svalbard have the same areas of responsibility as the Norwegian Police Service on the mainland. They are fully integrated with all of the national police systems that cover operative and investigative needs. Between 100 and 150 criminal cases are decided annually on Svalbard. Environmental crime has high priority. The police also head all the rescue operations on the archipelago. Around 50 rescue operations are carried out annually often under extreme conditions. The police also head all the rescue operations on the archipelago. The District Governor s police authority applies to the entire archipelago and extends to the territorial limit of 12 nautical miles. The police authority also applies to foreign operations that are conducted in accordance with the Svalbard Treaty. 21

22 International cooperation International police cooperation is decisive for combating crime effectively. In addition to participation in international organisations and operative cooperation, a great deal of emphasis is placed on the exchange of police experience and knowledge, contactpromoting activities and network building. Interpol Interpol seeks to facilitate international police cooperation and assists all organisations and authorities who aim to prevent and combat international crime. Norway became a member of Interpol in The national Interpol office is located within the National Criminal Investigation Service (Kripos), which functions as a centre for all inquiries. Norway also participates in a number of meetings and work groups associated with Interpol. Interpol is the largest international police organisation with 188 member countries. Its head office is located in Lyon, France. Europol Europol is the EU organisation for combating organised crime. All the member countries participate, and Norway entered into a cooperation agreement with Europol in The collection and exchange of intelligence is an important part of Europol s work. In addition, Europol is engaged in extensive research activities and can provide assistance to member countries in their investigations of international crime with their expertise and technical support. The head office is located in The Hague, Netherlands. Schengen cooperation The Schengen cooperation is cooperation between countries to reduce internal border control and introduce common external border control. In addition, it involves compensatory measures such as simplified police and legal cooperation 22

23 and cooperation between the member countries. Norway has participated since The Schengen cooperation is part of the EU and involves 25 countries. The Norwegian Police have benefitted from good results from SIS (Schengen Information System). The member countries exchange information on wanted persons through the Schengen database. The Schengen cooperation has simplified the rules and resulted in faster and smoother routines for police cooperation over the internal borders. This makes our efforts against organised crime more effective. FRONTEX Norway participates in FRONTEX, which is the EU s border control agency. The primary task is to coordinate the member countries operative cooperation on the control of common external borders. Joint operations are initiated as required at the external Schengen border on the basis of risk analyses. Risk analyses are performed based on the collection of information and analysis reports from all the member countries. Norway has established a national expert pool for border control, which assists in such joint operations. In addition, an emergency response border control team has been established, which can be deployed on a temporary basis to member states who are experiencing acute and extraordinary pressure against their external borders. Nordic Police and Customs Cooperation The Nordic Police and Customs Cooperation is cooperation between the Nordic countries police and custom authorities and the primary purpose of this cooperation is to strengthen and improve the efficiency of the Nordic countries fight against international crime. The Police and Customs in Denmark, Sweden and Norway deploy liaison officers around the world based on crime analysis. These liaison officers assist the Nordic police with investigations in the countries where they are deployed, and represent the Nordic countries in relation to the proper judicial authorities in the host country. 23

24 Nordic Police Cooperation Denmark, Sweden, Finland, Iceland and Norway have a tradition of close police cooperation. This cooperation takes place at the purely operative level, ranging from coordinated traffic control, public order policing and contracting out services, to cooperation in criminal case investigations and the development of new tools for the police. The majority of this cooperation is based on a Nordic police cooperation agreement and agreements between the national police commissioners, and parts of the cooperation also fall under the Schengen regulations that the Nordic countries are bound by. Other international cooperation Norwegian police participate in eight different operations spread over three continents, focusing primarily on Africa and Afghanistan. Norway has a cooperation and development aid project in Serbia. This is tied to the Serbs ongoing police restructuring and includes both financial support for equipment and infrastructure, as well as training in a number of policing fields. Norway also cooperates with a number of Central and East European countries, especially the Czech Republic, Slovakia, Bulgaria and Rumania, in connection with the Government s action plan for EU applicant states. This cooperation has primarily involved training, exchange of experience and transfer of competence. We expect to continue part of this cooperation under the new EEA financing schemes. The Norwegian Project for Support of the Police in Afghanistan (NORAF) was established in This is a bilateral project where the police have over 20 officers stationed in Afghanistan at any given time. This project has focused primarily on human rights education, in addition to the administration and management of the police academy in Kabul. The project also focuses on combating narcotics and the status of women in the Afghan police. 24

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26 Norwegian Police on foreign assignments Since 1989 Norwegian police have participated in international peacekeeping operations such as Civpol, the International Civilian Police. The Scandinavian police model with a democratic civilian (nonmilitary) police is supported by both the general population and the authorities. It is also an internationally accepted model that the UN encourages its member countries to learn from. Participation in CIVPOL has so far taken place primarily in operations led by the UN, but Norway also contributes police personnel under the management of the OSSE and the EU, as well as bilateral projects. The criteria for participation are based primarily on the UN s requirements for police personnel, and they stipulate health, age and police experience requirements. Overall around 1,000 Norwegian policemen/ women have served in the various conflict areas. 26

27 Organised crime There is an increased awareness of the significance of organised crime and the mobility and internationalisation of criminal networks. The fight against these problems requires a joint national and international effort. The National Police Directorate has overall responsibility for the operative coordination of the work to combat organised crime. This includes participation in international police cooperation and administrative management of Norwegian liaison officers abroad. The National Police Directorate is also responsible for developing the police s intelligence work, so that accurate analyses and assessments can be provided. In the fight against organised crime, such analyses and assessments will be important management tools for the strategic work of the police.

28 Crime trends in Norway ( ) Internal operational statistics for the police number of reported crimes Crime for profit Narcotics Violence Vandalism Economic Sexual Environment

29 Organisation of the police and prosecuting authority in Norway The Norwegian police and prosecuting authority are organised as a two-track system. This means that the responsibility for crime prevention is divided between the Ministry of Justice and the Director General of Public Prosecutions. In principle, the prosecuting authority should make decisions on an independent basis. No other competent authorities, nor the Minister of Justice, have any opportunity to instruct the prosecuting authority. It is only the King in Council who may instruct the prosecuting authority with regard to decisions in criminal cases. Director General of Public Prosecutions The Director General of Public Prosecutions is in charge of the prosecuting authority and has specialist responsibility for criminal case proceedings. The other police tasks are the responsibility of the Ministry of Justice, and this responsibility has essentially been delegated to the National Police Directorate. The Director General of Public Prosecutions also handles appeals against decisions made by public prosecutors. The Director General of Public Prosecutions makes the decision to prefer an indictment in cases concerning: / all crimes that are punishable by a maximum of 21 years of imprisonment / certain other serious crimes Public prosecutors The public prosecutors have prosecuting authority in cases that do not fall under the jurisdiction of the Director General of Public Prosecutions or the police and instruction authority over the police within its area of responsibility. Instructions are given by individual administrative decisions and general professional management. The public prosecutors are ordinarily the prosecutor in criminal cases that may entail imprisonment of more than 6 years, and in cases brought before the Court of Appeal. In some instances, cases can be delegated to the prosecuting authority in the police. 29