From January to August, the proportion of juvenile crime was lower in 2024, compared to the same period last year. This is shown by new figures from the criminal case register, which news has obtained access to. However, the figures show a large increase for the more serious offenses in the 10-17 age group. While there were 4,011 reports for robbery, violence and threats in the 1st and 2nd term of 2023, there were 4,429 in 2024. This is an increase of over 10 per cent. In Troms, the increase is 55 per cent. It is especially youth robbery that is increasing in many places. On a national basis, robbery reports have increased by almost 70 per cent. More youth robberies in Oslo In the Oslo police district, the number has almost doubled: While 125 robbery reports were registered in the period in 2023, 247 were recorded in 2024. – For Oslo municipality, this is the highest number of youth robberies in seven years, says Jane Bechmann Dahl. She is head of the Unit for Preventive Work in the Oslo Police District. Jane Bechmann Dahl in the police is concerned about the increase in violence in Oslo. Photo: Nadir Mohammad Alam / news – This worries us, and we are working purposefully to stop the development. According to Dahl, much of the increase in robbery and violence reports is due to regulars with several reports against them. – There are a few children and young people who commit repeated crimes, and that is reflected in the statistics. But it is serious, because we see that this crime is committed by young people. And it also often has young victims. At the same time, a large proportion of the reports are for threats. – Most of the increase in violence that we see compared to the same period last year is linked to an increase in the number of reports for threats. But that there has also been an increase in reports for physical violence. – A more chaotic culture of violence Salto coordinator in the district of Alna, Nahom Haile Jonas, describes the culture of violence among young people in Oslo as chaotic. – They are getting younger and younger. And there is a lot of mental illness among some of the young people. Nahom Haile Jonas says much of the violence he sees does not stem from organized criminals. Photo: Privat He emphasizes that intoxication is often part of the picture of violence. – Many of the young people I’ve worked with have grown up with trauma that they haven’t processed, and which comes out clearly when they use drugs and end up in these conflicts. Jonas also sees a development in violent incidents that are not related to organized criminals. – Those we see now who are behind the violence in Oslo’s streets are youth milieu that are not organized as before. There is a much more chaotic culture of violence that occurs between young people without it being directly connected to organized gangs. Complex reasons Stian Lid, who researches criminology at Oslo Met, says the reason for the increase is complex. – Parts seem to be linked to children and young people committing more violence in recent years, but we have also had an increased tendency to report violence committed by children and young people. However, he is not surprised that violence is increasing among young people. Lid believes that this is mainly due to the pandemic. Criminologist and researcher Stian Lid at Oslo Met is not surprised by the increase in violence among young people. Photo: Bård Nafstad – This was a period when particularly vulnerable children had less contact with adults, less social training and less training in resolving conflicts. Relations between young people and the municipalities, schools and the police’s preventive work were weakened. – That we are now seeing an increasing degree of problem behavior is not surprising. Lid also believes that social media can contribute to escalating conflicts. – We must understand today’s youth culture, and help them to resolve the conflicts they have across groupings. There, I believe we have great potential to curb the use of violence. Calls for political measures Jane Bechmann Dahl says youth crime is a high priority for the police, but that they have few means for those who are below the minimum criminal age. – The Oslo police have called for child protection to be given the opportunity to use coercive measures against some of those under the age of criminal law. We also want more places to be created in youth prisons that can accommodate those under the age of 18. – What measures are the police themselves working on? – We investigate all cases, even where the perpetrator is under the criminal minimum age. We also work closely with the municipalities and others to prevent further crime, and follow up on anyone who commits an offense until they are 18 years old. Nahom Haile Jonas believes that the solution must be found together. – It does not make sense that these young people have an organized gang behind them. If we are to help them, we must understand their chaotic and challenging everyday life. Then we can introduce the right measures that actually make them choose the right direction. Fewer reviews in total Overall, the proportion of reviews in Norway among young people is still falling. In Agder, reports of robbery and violence also fell by around 20 per cent. At the same time, three times as few violent offenses have been registered in Finnmark this year as last year. Jane Bechmann Dahl says much of the decline, especially for Oslo, is due to fewer shoplifters. Stian Lid says it is basically positive. – At the same time, we know that child and youth crime goes up and down a bit. So fluctuations like that from year to year, that’s really to be expected. Published 13.11.2024, at 07.41 Updated 13.11.2024, at 07.52
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Increase in the number of robberies and violent incidents – news Norway – Overview of news from different parts of the country
