– It boils inside me. This is a victory for the abusers, says Sørenes. She reacted strongly when she heard that Operation Spiderweb, the police group that exposed online rapists, was to be shut down. Because Therese knows very well how important it is to uncover online abuse. When she was ten years old, she was subjected to what she believes was abuse that started online. One boy made her, among other things, film herself while she performed sexual acts. – This has destroyed me in many ways, says the 21-year-old. It took many years before she dared to talk about it. It took even longer for her to report. Because everything was so shameful. – We know, of course, that there are large dark figures on online rape. These abuses have major consequences for people. I am living proof of exactly this. That’s why I react like this to them shutting down Spiderweb. It has been such an incredibly important resource for uncovering online abuse, says Sørenes. Will continue to prioritize net assault The reactions have been hailed after the news of the closure of Spiderweb came. news has since tried to get a comment from Minister of Justice Emilie Enger Mehl (Sp). Without luck. For now. The Minister of Justice points out in an e-mail to news that they have set aside NOK 100 million to combat violence and abuse against children in 2024. Among other things, they propose to set aside NOK 30 million to strengthen the police’s capacity and prosecute this type of abuse. – The fight against violence and abuse is one of the most important things we do, and a high priority in the budget. I also remind you that the efforts of the police are generally important, both the specialists and those who are out in environments where abuse occurs, writes Mehl to news. Mehl has also responded to the matter following questions from Ingunn Foss (H) and Tobias Drevland Lund (R) in the Storting. Here she writes that the Government is also working on an escalation plan against violence and abuse against children and violence in close relationships. – Internet-related abuse will be part of this plan, writes Mehl. Minister of Justice Emilie Enger Mehl. Photo: Nuno Duarte / news Operation Spiderweb was started in 2019. Since then, over 500 criminal cases have been processed. Over 100 have resulted in conviction. – I have asked the Norwegian Police Directorate for an update on the status of the project, and have been informed that the Sør-West police district will continue to have a targeted effort against child abuse. All created cases will be prioritized in the total case portfolio, writes Mehl. Bollestad: Priority offices over online rapists Many people have reacted to the news that the police group that exposed online rapists is to be closed down. Including several politicians. Olaug Bollestad (KrF) rages after the announcement that Spiderweb is to be shut down. Photo: Stian Lysberg Solum / Stian Lysberg Solum Olaug Bollestad is worried that the knowledge and expertise will disappear now that the group is closed down. – My stomach stopped when I heard that this will become part of the ordinary operations of the police. I think we must have dedicated people for this, she says. Police lawyer in the Sør-West police district, Fredrik Martin Soma, has stated that the police now have to work differently. – The concern is whether we will be able to maintain the competence we have developed and prioritize equally well. We have to work differently. There will not be as many cases, and that is problematic, he told news. Police lawyer in the South-West police district, Fredrik Martin Soma. Photo: Bjørn Olav Skjæveland / news Operation Spiderweb is closed due to a lack of resources, according to the Sør-West police district. The police have nevertheless been clear that cases dealing with online abuse of children will continue to be a priority. But Bollestad points to Justice Minister Emilie Enger Mehl. She claims Mehl has prioritized new sheriff’s offices over online rape cases. – The government has provided 24 sheriff’s offices, even though professional councils said no to it. These funds could rather have been used to combat abuse, she says. Storting representative for Rødt, Mímir Kristjánsson, does not like the closure either. Storting representative for Rødt, Mímir Kristjánsson. Photo: Red – This is frightening. Spiderweb is a group in the police that has delivered good results, solved many important cases and tackled what is most important to tackle: Namely online abuse of children. Will not go beyond other resources, according to Mehl Kristjánsson believes that this signals that politicians no longer prioritize combating online abuse against children. Mehl points out that the Government prioritizes combating violence and abuse against children, and then it is the chief of police who chooses how he wants to organize his investigative resources. She also rejects that the establishment of new service centers goes beyond other resources. – The establishment of new service centers therefore does not affect the resource situation in the police districts in any other way than the relevant police districts being supplied with new resources for this purpose. Therese Sørenes hopes it is true that online assault will continue to be a priority. – But I don’t believe it until I see it. Social media is evolving every day. So do the abusers. It is becoming increasingly easier to prey on children. It is important that those who have political power actually do something, she says. See the strong reactions surrounding the closure of Spiderweb in Dagsnytt 18.
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Abuse victim rages over closure of police group – boils inside me – news Rogaland – Local news, TV and radio
