Attempted murder, stabbings, robbery, serious violence and hate speech. Recently, youth crime in and around the capital has upset many. So far this year, 13 minors have been detained in the Oslo police district. Last year the number was three. – It is unsustainable that young people are placed in prison because there is not a good enough offer in child protection, says children’s ombudsman Mina Gerhardsen to news. Children’s ombudsman Mina Gerhardsen is very critical of children having to be detained. The situation has been critical for a long time, she says. Photo: BARNEOMBUDET When children have to be imprisoned news is aware that child protection has refused to be able to take care of at least two suspected criminal minors recently. They were therefore detained. The threshold for imprisoning children is very high. It must be so-called “absolutely necessary”. – The court came to the conclusion that there were no realistic alternatives to detention, says police inspector Marte Heggli. Police Inspector Marte Heggli says that they only imprison children if there are no other alternatives. This is an absolute requirement. Photo: Nadir Alam / news Young offenders in custody Several of the young people currently in custody are suspected of having committed serious criminal acts several times, in a short period of time. That is one of the main reasons why the police want to imprison them while the investigation is ongoing. They are also afraid that evidence may be lost. The young people are over 15 years old, which is the minimum criminal age in Norway. But they are under 18. This means that they can be punished, but the punishment is milder than for those who are of legal age. Do you think children are imprisoned too often – It is very unfortunate that the police and the courts have to use detention unnecessarily, says children’s ombudsman Mina Gerhardsen. She believes that child protection should rather take care of the children. – They do not fulfill their obligation to provide assistance, and do not have good enough forced homes to look after a small group of children with complex challenges, she believes. Two young men were seriously injured when two 17-year-olds, a 14-year-old and a 15-year-old attacked them on Tjuvholmen in August. Photo: Adnan Ayanle / PSP Child welfare institution or prison? Children can only be imprisoned for 14 days at a time. A new assessment must then be made as to whether the child can be released or not. This is done at a detention meeting. Then there is always a question of what options the child has. Are there any options other than prison? This is where child protection comes in. – They cannot be jailed if, for example, child protection has an offer that can take care of the accused and the necessary restrictions, says police inspector Heggli. An alternative could be, for example, a child welfare institution. This has only been done once in the last ten years. In professional language, this is called “custody surrogate”. In April, the police in Oslo responded to an incident in Møllergata, where a knife and youth were involved. Photo: ISMAIL BURAK AKKAN / news Care, not social welfare Child welfare institutions are not suitable for locked doors, physical coercion and strict control of young people at this level. That is the opinion of the Directorate for Children and Families (Bufdir). The purpose is not to ensure that young people avoid punishment, protect society or prevent the destruction of evidence. – Placement in a child protection institution is therefore rarely an alternative to detention, says divisional director Anders Henriksen. The aim of a stay in a child welfare institution should not involve social protection, punishment and preventing evidence from being lost, says divisional director Anders Henriksen. Photo: Bufdir The main reason is the Child Protection Act and consideration of the child’s best interests. – The purpose is to give the child care, protection and treatment for serious behavioral problems, says Henriksen. A detention in custody requires completely different conditions than the child welfare services can and should offer, he believes. – Institutions can, however, with good care and follow-up help to stabilize the child’s situation and reduce the risk of new crime and negative behaviour, says Henriksen. Few places – imprisoned with adults Another option could be a place in a youth prison. But today there are only 10 youth prison places in Norway. It is far from enough, the police believe. Therefore, young people must be detained together with adult criminals. – The police do not want to keep children in adult prison, but with the crime scene we see now, it is sometimes necessary, according to police lawyer Hanna Kaplon. “Safety House” On Monday, it became known that the government has set up a separate committee, which will come up with new solutions for how young offenders under the age of 15 should be taken care of. That is, those who are under the criminal minimum age. This mainly applies to children who end up neither in the custody of the police nor the child protection services. – This small group is a great detriment to themselves and others, creates insecurity in the local environment and is at risk of being recruited into more organized crime, says Minister of Justice Emilie Enger Mehl. The government wants to place these children in so-called “safe houses”. It must be a housing and rehabilitation facility for children who have committed serious crimes. – Children who commit serious crimes often fall through the cracks, because they should not be punished as adults, but neither can they be fully looked after by the child welfare services, says Mehl. Photo: Christian Ziegler Remme / news Urgent need The children’s ombudsman is pleased that the committee will look at measures now. – Here there is a need for a proper investment, says Mina Gerhardsen. There is an urgent need for more institutions that can provide follow-up and help to young people with complex challenges, she believes. Published 14.08.2024, at 14.03
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– It is unsustainable that young people are imprisoned in the absence of a better offer – Greater Oslo
