This is the case: The police in Oslo want to remove ATMs from the streets in order to combat crime: There have been several cases of robbery, violence and drug dealing at the ATMs, especially in busy areas such as the city center and Greenland. In recent years, the number of ATMs in Norway has been reduced, but a majority in the Storting has decided to strengthen the right to pay in cash for goods and services. Private companies, not Norwegian banks, mainly operate the mini-banks that are at. One of these companies, Loomis, removed its ATM at Hammersborg in Oslo after several criminal acts. Another company, Nokas, expresses that they take the concerns of the police seriously and want to ensure that their ATMs are used in a safe and responsible manner. The summary is made by an AI service from OpenAI. The content is quality assured by news’s journalists before publication. The woman who we see being beaten in the video tells news that she got help from someone who threw away the crutches. – That shows a lot of respect, says the woman. *** – There are robberies, violence and unrest at ATMs, especially in busy areas. That’s what Police Superintendent Lasse Johnsen says. The experienced policeman knows what he is talking about. For many years, he has closely followed what happens on the streets of the capital – and he does not like what he sees. Among other things in the city center and in Greenland. – This is an area where the population has reported that they feel less safe than other places in the city, says Johnsen. Photo: Håkon Benjaminsen / news Getting fewer and fewer We go together to one of the several ATMs that are centrally located in the area. He and the rest of the police want these ATMs gone. The police have grown tired of robberies, violence and the buying and selling of drugs. – We ask ourselves whether the need for ATMs so close to the drug environment is necessary. Johnsen adds: – If they don’t then include in their calculations that they will make good money from criminals. In recent years, there have been fewer and fewer ATMs in Norway. Only about 3 percent of all trade in this country takes place with cash. Despite this, a majority in the Storting decided in June to strengthen the right to pay in cash for goods and services. – People must be confident that they can pay when they go to the shop, to a restaurant or to the hairdresser, said Minister of Justice and Emergency Emilie Enger Mehl earlier this year. Photo: Håko Benjaminsen / news – Følast unsafe The experienced police officer Lasse Johnsen says that he accepts what the politicians have decided. But he still asks them to take note of what actually happens around the street ATMs. Especially those that are close to busy areas such as in the center of Oslo. – Street ATMs close to the open drug environment are used by both buyers and sellers of drugs. Robbery and violence are not unusual, Johnsen asserts. Photo: Håkon Benjaminsen / news He points out that this makes it scary both for businesses and those who pass by. – The passers-by feel that it is unsafe to have to walk between those who hang out by the ATMs. Some of them are also partially masked. We simply want to do something about this. Photo: Håkon Benjaminsen / news Eliminate ATMs Today, it is mostly private companies and not Norwegian banks that operate the various ATMs that remain. One of these is Loomis. After several criminal acts at their ATM at Hammersborg in Oslo, they chose to take it away. – When we received the inquiry from the police, we are aware of our social responsibility. And was completely determined to remove him, and we did so within a few weeks. That’s what Morten Grusd says. He is the CEO of Loomis in Norway. Photo: Håkon Benjaminsen / news Although they removed the one ATM they had at street level in Oslo, they are no strangers to setting up new ones. – Whether it is at street level or other places where the public gathers, it is not that important to us. We want cash to be available to the public, says Grusd. He adds that it is in line with what the politicians have decided about cash in society. – Now it is the case that cash is legal on the same level as other forms of payment. And you cannot ban either cash or Vipps for that matter, even if you also see an increase in tipping robberies. Photo: Håkon Benjaminsen / news – Taking it seriously Another company that has ATMs is Nokas. Director Morten Haugen wrote the following in an e-mail to news. – We take the concerns of the police seriously and are concerned with ensuring that our ATMs are used in a safe and responsible manner. news has also tried over time to get a comment from Euronet, which is one of the world’s largest cash companies. They have a number of ATMs in exposed areas in the capital. They have not answered us. A young man withdraws money from the ATM. Then two other guys try to rob him. One of the boys has now been sentenced for attempted robbery. Cash needs Back in Greenland in Oslo, police contact Lasse Johnsen greets many acquaintances. Very few of them here are criminals. It is the middle of the day and there are no scary gangs outside the ATMs. They come first when darkness falls. Videos that news has obtained access to from the police clearly show the buying and selling of drugs – and two cases of robbery. On a small strip there are several ATMs that the police want removed. The tall policeman has a clear message. – We question the tenderers’ estimates of the need for cash in this area. If you don’t then assume that you will feed a drug environment with cash then. Lasse Johnsen enjoys great respect among the people of Greenland in Oslo. Now he is dealing with the gangs that use the ATMs in the area. Photo: Håkon Benjaminsen / news Published 15.12.2024, at 16.58 Updated 15.12.2024, at 17.05
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