A police officer was taken off duty on Tuesday after a dangerous shot was fired in a car dealership in Bodø. The Bureau has decided on an investigation to clarify the circumstances surrounding the shooting. An expert committee has been looking at the police’s use of force since February this year. Earlier in November, a divided committee issued a recommendation on general arming of the police to the Minister of Justice. But among the politicians, there is great division in relation to such a change. Can change the relationship with the police The Conservative Party’s national meeting voted against general arming of the police in May 2021. Storting representative, Heidi Nordby Lunde, was among the opponents. – I actually think that the Norwegian public feels so safe with unarmed police, because there is a positive presence without the need to be afraid that something special might happen. – It is the police’s responsibility to ensure that their personnel are well enough trained to both carry weapons and handle situations where they will be used. Photo: Camilla Helen Heiervang / Camilla Helen Heiervang As the current situation is, Lundby believes that the current legislation, which allows advanced storage in cars, is good enough. – We have some areas where there is general arming of the police because there is a constant threat of risk. We mean that we are actually taking care of the need we have in Norway. The Conservative Party, on the other hand, is willing to take a position on the question if it emerges that the threat picture indicates that there is a need for full armament. Lundby believes that general arming will lead to a change in people’s relationship with the police. – I have to admit that when I come abroad and see police with automatic rifles at the airport, I don’t automatically feel reassured by that. Furthermore, Lundby believes that an escalation could lead to certain situations escalating and criminals arming themselves in the face of the police. – Today’s legislation that allows advanced storage in a car is sufficient. Photo: Solfrid Leirgul Øverbø / news Rødt’s justice policy spokesperson, Tobias Drevland Lund, also believes that general arming can lead to the criminal circle arming themselves more heavily. – When both the Right and Red agree on something, it shows that the general attitude in Norway towards arming the police is precisely that it has worked quite well as it is today. In a survey carried out by Norstat on behalf of news, it shows that most people do not feel safer when the police are armed. – It’s a naive claim The latest member survey of the Norwegian Police Union in November shows that police employees largely want general armaments. – Technically speaking, there can be no doubt that we need an armed police force. Everything else is wishful thinking. This is according to the chairman of the justice committee at the Storting, Per-Willy Amundsen (Frp). Amundsen has fought for several years for the police to carry weapons on their hips. – It is about protecting the public, innocent outsiders, but also that the police must be able to protect themselves. – In many ways, you can say that the time of innocence is over and unfortunately it will probably not return Photo: Vidar Ruud / Vidar Ruud – They are constantly away in tougher situations. The last thing we want is for it to be so tough to be a police officer that we lose recruitment. Amundsen dismisses Lundby and Lund’s argument related to the arms race between the police and the criminal circles. – It is a naive claim because it has escalated. It is the police who are lagging behind. It is the police who must follow the escalation. It is simply a misunderstanding. Per-Willy Amundsen will put forward a proposal for general arming of the police in the Storting before the current period of temporary arming expires on 1 December. – The threat landscape has changed, the nature of crime has changed and the police are more often in tougher situations than they were in the past. – It is not the Olsen gang they are going to catch and put in the car. It is tough criminals who are the challenge for the police today. Can make the police unsafe Red, on the other hand, are strong opponents of a general armament. Tobias Drevland Lund, believes that the current legislation is good enough. – There is perhaps a certain connection with the temporary armament that has taken place in recent years and the number of accidental shots. Photo: news – I think the police in Norway enjoy a great deal of trust among the population, partly because you manage to gain respect and trust from people without carrying firearms. – We must rather look at how we can strengthen the response time of the emergency squad and other important parts of the police. Lund respects the fact that the police want to use weapons, but is afraid it could be counterproductive. – I am afraid that it could make the police more unsafe when they might encounter criminals who are more heavily armed than they are today, because the main rule today is that the police are not heavily armed.
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General arming of the police – Concerned about an arms race – news Nordland
