– We have seen a development over time. There are several cases, threats and violence in recent years. It also turns out that some younger people have a much lower threshold for making threats or committing acts of violence against police officers, says leader of the Police Union in Troms, Runar Fagerlund. He says that respect for authority is becoming less and less. – It is worrying and something we absolutely do not want. In the past, when you came into contact with the police, you had respect. But even that respect has gradually disappeared more and more, says Fagerlund. Increasing in the north Recently, news has put the spotlight on youth crime. Recent figures from the Norwegian Police Directorate show that Finnmark, Troms and Oslo have had the greatest increase in recent years. In Troms and Finnmark, the number of threats and cases of violence against public officials from young people under the age of 18 has also doubled in the past year. This is shown by figures from the Norwegian Police Directorate and the criminal case register: Nationally, the number of under-18 criminal cases involving violence against public officials has increased every year. In 2019, it was just under 260. In 2022, it was over 340. In Troms and Finnmark, it has gone from just under 10 cases in 2019 to 20 in 2022. The figures for 2023 are, for natural reasons, not final. But the numbers have increased sharply during the first 8 months of the year. In Troms and Finnmark, the statistics are already higher than the whole of 2022. The increase in U18 cases involving violence against public officials also increased in the corona years in the north. During these years, crime generally decreased in society. In Oslo, the number has increased annually since 2020. After 8 months of 2023, the number is approaching the total for 2022. Here, the police experienced a sharp decline in the corona year 2020. 2019 is still the year with the highest statistics. Want to appear as gangsters Young people that news has spoken to say that the environments in Tromsø are becoming increasingly harsh. Young people themselves say that respect for authority is steadily decreasing. – I think that it is because there are fewer consequences in society. That if you do something, there is less chance of being punished, says Stormer Arntsen. He is a secondary school student at Grønnåsen secondary school in Tromsø. Mattis Raappan Birkelund and Kristoffer Solhaug also go there. The three secondary school students say several want to appear as gangsters. – Then they must not respect teachers and the police, because they are in “the hood”, say the students. The leader of the Police Union in Troms says that the police do not have the resources to carry out adequate crime prevention. – The police’s greatest despair is that we feel that we are not enough. We do not prioritize preventive work, because the lack of resources is precarious, says Fagerlund. Get 2 billion more State Secretary Sigve Bolstad in the Ministry of Justice and Emergency Preparedness says that the government has prioritized money for the police. At the same time, he says that the police have been affected by the rise in prices in society. For next year, the government will give the police a budget increase of NOK 2 billion. – For the government, it is important to prevent the recruitment of children and young people into gang environments, he says. He himself has a background as a police officer. And from 2013 to 2022, he was union leader in the Police Union before being appointed state secretary. Bolstad says that if young people commit serious crimes, there must be consequences. Sigve Bolstad, State Secretary in the Ministry of Justice and Emergency Preparedness. Photo: Vilde Mikkelsen / news – We have therefore proposed improvements to youth punishment and youth follow-up. However, prevention of youth crime cannot be solved by the justice sector alone, says the state secretary. He points out that the government works for cooperation between the police and others who work with children and young people. He mentions the municipalities, schools, child protection and the health service, as well as sports and volunteering. Asking questions in the Storting Storting politician for Troms Høyre, Erlend Svardal Bøe, shares the police’s concern about the increase in youth violence in the north. This means that he brings up the topic in the Storting. Erlend Svardal Bøe, Conservative politician from Troms. Photo: Eskild Johansen / news He asks Justice and Emergency Services Minister Emilie Enger Mehl (Sp) to answer what she will do to follow up the development in Tromsø. He also wants an answer to what collaborative role she believes the police should have. – I think the development we see in Tromsø is disturbing. There has been a lot of attention about youth crime in the capital. When we see a development also in other large cities, such as in Tromsø. I think that must be taken seriously, he says.
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Sounding the alarm about increasing violence from young people against public servants – news Troms and Finnmark
