– The increased workload, workload and few people have made me come to the conclusion that this is a job I cannot stand for long, says police officer Anja Gamst to news. She is now quitting the police, and is getting a big salary increase in her new job in the Armed Forces. This week, Politiforum was able to report that 1,500 police employees have considered leaving the agency over the past two years, among other reasons due to low pay and high workload. In other words, 6 out of 10 employees, or 57 per cent, are considering quitting the police. – Mainly, I’m quitting because I want a better everyday working life, and I want a job where I know I’m good enough. I don’t do that as of now, says Gamst. Here, most employees in the police are considering quitting: The graph shows the percentage of police employees who answer yes to the question whether they have considered quitting the police during the last two years, or are considering doing so now. Increased workload In Politiforum’s survey, this is reflected in the fact that a full 72 per cent of those questioned answered that the workload has increased over the past five years. Gamst works as an investigator at the Geographical Operations Unit (GDE) Vestfold, which is in the South-East police district. She points out that the job as an investigator is rewarding, but that the salary has not been compatible with the work she puts in “every single day”. WORKLOAD: Police officer Anja Gamst does not think the salary in the police is compatible with the workload. Photo: Trygve Heide / news Gamst says that for a long time she has felt the discomfort of having to cut back on chores. – It has to be done every single day when you come to work, says Gamst. According to Gamst, the consequence is that, among other things, you get longer proceedings. – No one benefits from it. Neither me as an investigator nor those involved in the cases. The more than 3,000 new police employees in the last ten years make little difference, says Gamst. As an investigator, she is primarily aware of the downsizing that has taken place. Fears for the rule of law Lower staffing and higher work pressure have consequences, especially for the employees in the police districts, shows the survey from Politiforum. – Are you afraid of legal certainty? – My biggest fear is to be called in 20 years’ time, and be confronted about a case that has not been investigated well enough. Or that there are findings that indicate that there has not been sufficient legal certainty, says Gamst. In the short two years after the Center Party and the Labor Party took over government power, there have been 255 fewer police man-years in the police districts. This is according to the Norwegian Police Directorate’s official staffing statistics. Ole B. Sæverud, chief of police in the Sør-East police district, explains to news that the work in the police has become more difficult in the last year due to the economic development. – We have less money this year than we had last year, that really applies to everyone. Everything has become more expensive with high inflation, so we prioritize very hard every day, says Sæverud. – I think it is important to say that what is described by Anja, that is how it is. But it is not so easy to do something about it. LESS MONEY: Police chief in the South-East police district, Ole B. Sæverud, says that the police have less money to spend this year than in the past. Photo: John-Andre Samuelsen Salary rises sharply For Gamst, being able to uncover offenses and being able to work towards a society of justice has come first. But she adds that salary is also important. INCREASED SALARY: Gamst does not hide the fact that salary is important, but it is not the main reason why she is now changing profession. Photo: Trygve Heide / news When Gamst joined the police in 2019, his starting salary was NOK 390,000. Today she earns NOK 460,000. In comparison, the annual salary in Norway was NOK 638,000 on average last year, according to Statistics Norway. The low salaries in the police are one of the reasons why Gamst is now putting his police career on the shelf. – It is clear that pay has something to say, says Gamst. Now the trip as a senior adviser to the Norwegian Armed Forces’ internal audit, where Gamst is getting a sharp rise in salary. – I go up strongly, I do. But it is important for me to clarify the difference between the position I currently hold as an investigator, and the position I will be entering now, which is a civilian position with benefits as a senior adviser. news has tried to get hold of the Ministry of Justice and Emergency Preparedness and the Norwegian Police Directorate without success.
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