The case in summary: • The number of robberies, crime and violence committed by children and young people in Oslo is increasing.• The victims of these crimes are often young, and there are more robberies with suspects under the age of 18 than before.• City councilor in Oslo, Eirik Lae Solberg, expresses concern about the situation and emphasizes the need for preventive work, more visible police, and more institutional places for young people who commit crime.• Minister for Children and Families Kjersti Toppe says that the government takes the situation seriously and plans to introduce several measures to stop the increase in youth crime . The summary is made by an AI service from OpenAi. The content is quality assured by news’s journalists before publication. news has spoken to the father of a 12-year-old boy who was recently robbed in Oslo. – It is uncomfortable. You feel insecure. He does not want to be named, but says that his son was shocked when his father met him after the attempted robbery. There have been several cases of youth crime and violence committed by young people in Oslo. This weekend, four teenagers were charged after a stabbing at an outdoor restaurant on Tjuvholmen. The youngest of the suspects is 14 years old. Young victims Jane Bechmann, head of the joint unit for prevention in the Oslo police district, is concerned. She says that youth crime in the city is increasing, and that the number of robberies carried out by children and young people has increased so far this year. The victims are often young. There are also more robberies involving suspects under the age of 18 than before. – In some of these robberies, violence or threats have also been used, says Bechmann. Head of the joint unit for prevention in the Oslo police, Jane Bechmann. Photo: Nadir Mohammad Alam / news City council leader in Oslo, Eirik Lae Solberg from the Conservative Party, says that the municipality, the police and the government must work together to stop development in the city. – It is a situation we cannot accept, Solberg states. – It will get worse He has, together with the city council of which he is the leader, been in power in Oslo for almost a year. – This is not a new problem, but it seems to be getting worse. What have you done? – You are absolutely right that it will get worse. There are more, especially children under 14–15 years of age, who commit violence, and the violence is getting worse. The most important thing we do is work preventively. The Oslo city council leader says that they have initiated several preventive measures. Photo: Alf Simensen / news Solberg says that the city council has drawn up a separate scheme for schools in vulnerable areas in Oslo. Here they have their own initiative against violence, threats and bullying in school. The city council has also strengthened the offer of holiday and part-time jobs for young people, according to Solberg. – I think it is a very important offer. That children and young people can feel pride in having a job and earning money in a legal and correct way. – Need a government that plays as a team The City Council leader has asked the government several times to strengthen the police in Oslo. – There have been 124 fewer police positions in Oslo in the past year. It has gone in the wrong direction. He believes that more visible police on the streets helps. In addition, more institutional places are needed for children who commit crime. – We also need more places in youth prisons for those over the age of 15. Solberg says that it will make more people feel safe in the city. – I can’t arrange that myself. I have to cooperate with the state. I need a government that plays as a team. Will introduce measures Minister for Children and Families, Kjersti Toppe from the Center Party, says that the government will introduce several measures to stop youth crime from increasing. – The government takes the development very seriously. We are working together with several ministries to come up with reinforced measures to achieve it. But Toppe cannot yet say what concrete sales measures the government is planning. Minister for Children and Families, Kjersti Toppe will not say what kind of measures the government will introduce to prevent youth crime. Photo: Amanda Iversen Orlich / news – Can’t have it like this The father news spoke to says that his son is doing better now. But the attempted robbery has left its mark. He is concerned that the children in Oslo do not feel safe. – The fact that children do not feel safe in public spaces is quite sad. City councilor Solberg agrees with him. He thinks it is very serious and disturbing that many children and adults in Oslo feel unsafe. – We cannot have it in such a way that people feel unsafe, and especially children and young people who are on the threshold of adulthood, do not feel safe when they are out and about in the city. Published 05/08/2024, at 09.09 Updated 05.08.2024, at 09.54
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