The case in summary: • Three police districts receive money to test a new way of working to prevent violence in close relationships, called RISK. • The RISK model implies that special police officers only work to prevent and avert violence, and in the worst case, murder. • The police must cooperate more closely with the municipalities where there are the most cases of family violence, and both those who are exposed to violence and those who perpetrate violence must receive better help and follow-up. • There has been an increase in the number of reports of violence in close relationships every year for the past five years, with the exception of during the corona pandemic in 2022. • There is also an increase in the number of inquiries to the police’s “Support center for crime victims”. • The aim of the RISK model is to reduce the number of reports and court cases, because both those living in violent relationships and the person who is violent get help. The summary is made by an AI service from OpenAi. The content is quality assured by news’s journalists before publication. – We would come in earlier to introduce the necessary measures in this RISK model. That’s what the head of the preventive unit in the South-East police district, Nina Karstensen Bjørlo, says. The police district is one of three that receives money to test a new way of working to prevent violence in close relationships. RISK is called the project that must be followed and evaluated before this becomes the recipe for preventing violence nationally. Nina Karstensen Bjørlo is head of the preventive unit in the South-East police district. Photo: Cecilie Valentine Brekke / news – The police have in a way prevented violence by coming in early and working interdisciplinary, but it shows that we are not good enough on our own, says Bjørlo and adds: – Now we are lucky to be pilot in the development of this model, which is taken from the Oslo police district. We believe that we should be able to enter earlier to reduce the risk of continued violence. She confirms that the model includes special police officers who work only to prevent and avert violence and, in the worst case, murder. – Yes, they become specialists in using the risk tools that we use. In addition, we must also direct our efforts against abusers and introduce the necessary measures and support measures against those who practice violence, explains Bjørlo. The police must work more closely with the municipalities where there are most domestic violence cases, so that those who need help and follow-up receive help where they live. Not only those who are exposed to violence will receive better help, but also those who beat or commit abuse will receive closer follow-up in the new way of working. More and more reports of violence in close relationships The trend of more reports of violence in close relationships will also continue in 2024. This is shown by figures from the Norwegian Police Directorate for the first four months of the year. In the first term, there were 1,297 reviews. This is an increase from a total of 1,131 in the same period last year. So 166 more reported cases in this category. The figures also show that it has increased every year for the past five years, with the exception of during the corona pandemic in 2022. But there is also an increase in the number of inquiries to the police’s “Support center for crime victims”. In the South-East police district alone, there are around 1,000 inquiries a year from people who need information and help about what to do. The police are therefore sitting on a lot of information that can be decisive for how the violence can be stopped before it goes too far. – We have a hope that this established collaboration, which we will develop, can enable us to enter early. And that our citizens contact us. Either through the support centre, which is a low-threshold offer to get advice and guidance, or that they meet with the police to report an incident of violence, says Bjørlo. Do you need help ? Exposing others to violence is illegal. You do not need to be in an acute crisis to get help at a crisis center or call the violence and abuse hotline. Do you have a partner who controls everything you do? Or a family member who hits and threatens you? There are many forms of violence, and you may be wondering if what you have experienced is some form of violence? Is it something you are experiencing now, or has it been a long time since it happened? It is common to think of violence as actions that leave visible marks, such as bruises, wounds or fractures. Violence is more than that. If you experience that someone you are close to makes you feel afraid, maybe makes you do things you don’t want to, prevents you from living your life the way you want, or talks disparagingly about you, then that is also violence, although it leaves no visible marks. If you are living in such a relationship now, it is important that you seek help so that the violence can be stopped. You are not alone. There is an assistive device that is there for you. Contact your GP, a crisis centre, abuse center or the police for help. . In Norway, you are entitled to three hours of non-binding and free assistance from a lawyer, before you decide whether you want to report intimate partner violence to the police. (Source: Krisesentersekretariatet) It is important to know that there is help to be had In the long term, the goal is that the number of reports and court cases will decrease, because both those living in violent relationships and the person who is violent will receive help. – We can say that we never get enough resources, but in any case we have got enough to establish teams in all our geographical operating units. Where Buskerud is the pilot unit that will test out the model, Bjørlo explains. The most important thing is that everyone who lives in a relationship where they are not feeling well because of an abusive partner, knows that there is help to get. Whether it’s contacting someone you trust, a crisis centre, the violence and abuse hotline or the police. – It is actually important for us in the police to have an understanding of the phenomenon, and so do all these aid agencies. The fact that once contact is made, that we must take this seriously and follow up in the best possible way to keep the victim safe, explains Bjørlo. Published 25/07/2024, at 20.03
ttn-69
Increase in the number of reports of violence in close relationships – now the police are taking action – news Buskerud – Local news, TV and radio
