The proposal means that the Police Directorate decide whether the police should be armed in daily service. It is also proposed that the Police Directorate can determine the extent of the armament. Justice Minister Astri Aas-Hansen (Ap) announced in April that the government would make the proposal already before the summer. A clear majority in the Storting now wants a general arming of the police after the Right, the Labor Party, the Center Party and the KrF turned. The Progress Party has long been for armament. SV, Red, Left and MDG are opposed to a general arming of the police. Norwegian police are generally unarmed, but in exceptional cases, the Ministry of Justice approves temporary armament. Photo: Beate Oma Dahle / NTB Increased Terror threat Norway is today one of the few countries where the police are unarmed in ordinary service. In some exceptional cases, the Ministry of Justice has approved temporary armament, including in light of increased terror threat. General arming means that police officers should always wear weapons when they are out in the city. Today, the police have weapons in the patrol car, which they have to pick up if a threat situation arises. This is the law now: Norwegian police are generally unarmed, but in exceptional cases, the Ministry of Justice approves temporary armament. Emergency forces have been armed since November 2020. In September 2021, the police were allowed to use electric shock weapons on a permanent basis. Supporters of general armament believe it increases the risk that life can be lost. Opponents, on the other hand, believe that they risk weakening the civilian population’s confidence in the police, that prevention becomes more difficult and the risk of escalation greater. The police will bear the weapons the police have even wanted general armament for a number of years. They believe threat situations such as terror, gang settlement and violent mentally ill support the need to carry weapons firmly. The police have even advocated a general armament since 2013. Photo: NTB scanpix The support among the population is also increasing. A poll in VG and Aftenposten in April showed that 56 per cent of Norwegians are positive about the general armament of the police, while 27 per cent are negative and the rest is uncertain. An news survey conducted by the Northern State during the same period shows that the majority is for the arming of the police, but that young Norwegians are more skeptical. In the survey, 40 percent of those under the age of 30 responded that they are against armament. Published 09.05.2025, at. 12.14 Updated 09.05.2025, at. 12.19
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