– They are at risk of committing new crimes. People are at risk of being exposed to crime by those who have been released, says Oslo police chief Ida Melbo Øystese. news has met the police chief to talk about youth crime, which is increasing in the capital. The perpetrators are getting younger and there is a lower threshold for the use of violence, she says. – I get very worried. Police chief Ida Melbo Øystese believes this must be taken seriously and calls for a wider debate. Photo: Rolf Petter Olaisen / news When a young person over the age of 15 has been charged in a criminal case, the police can ask for remand. If, for example, evidence may be lost or the young person may do something seriously wrong again. There are ten prison places for minors under the age of 18 in this country. They are mostly used for custody. – It is not the case that young people should serve time in an adult prison. So here we simply have a capacity problem throughout the country. The Oslo police feel that criminal repeat offenders must be released to make room for other young people charged with more serious crimes. – It happens relatively often. Here is an example It is April in Oslo. A 16-year-old boy is presented for remand in Oslo district court. The police have charged him with aggravated illegal arming in a public place and for dealing with firearms. He has previously been convicted of the same. Even before he turned 15, he was known to the police. Now he is also charged with, among other things, violence. The Oslo District Court rules that the 16-year-old should be remanded in custody. Twice the imprisonment is extended. But after the last detention meeting in May, the boy is released. The 16-year-old must give his place to a 17-year-old who has done something more serious. In several other cases, the district court has ruled on release or a shorter period in custody. There is a lack of space at the youth unit in Eidsvoll. The young people have been charged with, among other things, attempted murder, grievous bodily harm and deprivation of liberty. Can move freely Young people who are released from custody can in principle move freely. – When you are released from police custody, you have full freedom of movement, says police attorney Hanna Kaplon of the Oslo police. Police attorney Hanna Kaplon is the head of the investigation in many criminal cases dealing with juvenile delinquency. Photo: The police But there are some measures the police can initiate. – The police can impose a duty to report, possibly a ban on staying in certain areas or a ban on visitors if the conditions for this are met, says Kaplon. – Children have their everyday life ruined When children and young people commit crime, this usually affects other children and young people. The police chief fears the consequences of releases. – When we cannot lift out the one child who commits a serious crime against other children, then there are many children whose everyday life is ruined. She believes this must be taken seriously and calls for a wider debate. – It is not just about the individual perpetrator. This child’s best interests. – But it is also about taking care of all the children who are exposed to crime. More children experience crime The number of children and young people under the age of 18 who are exposed to crime is increasing in Oslo. 1497 children had experienced this by the end of May. This is an increase so far this year of 14.4 per cent. Directorate of Correctional Services The number of minors incarcerated in Norwegian prisons has increased markedly in the last two years, according to the Directorate of Correctional Services (KDI). – The increase means that more minors have spent time in ordinary prisons due to lack of capacity at the youth units, says department director Heidi Bottolfs. The court decides whether there are grounds for detention. The Department of Correctional Services’ responsibility is to ensure sufficient places for minors. Heidi Bottolfs is department director in the Directorate of Correctional Services, (KDI). Photo: Trygve Indrelid / Trygve Indrelid – The Directorate of Correctional Services believes that there are too few places for minors as of today and that this trend is likely to continue, says Bottolfs. High threshold The Ministry of Justice admits that at times there has been a lack of dedicated prison places for young people. – It is primarily the “tops” that are difficult to remove with the number of places at the youth units that exist today, says State Secretary John-Erik Vika (Sp). He emphasizes that the threshold is high for imprisoning children and young people under the age of 18. John-Erik Vika is State Secretary in the Ministry of Justice and Emergency Preparedness. Photo: Rune Kongsro / Ministry of Justice and Emergency Preparedness – According to the UN Convention on the Rights of the Child, arrest, detention or imprisonment of children can only be used as a last resort and for the shortest possible period of time. He will not answer specifically whether the ministry will create more prison places for young people. – In the state budget for 2024, the government prioritized around NOK 11 million for an expansion of the Youth Unit east of Eidsvoll with two places, which are now in use, says Vika. – No point asking for custody According to Oslo’s police chief, the lack of prison places has led to a higher threshold for requesting custody of young people under the age of 18. – There is feedback I have received from the organisation, that there is no point in asking for detention because there is no room after all. The management of the Oslo police wants to do something about it. – Now we have given signals that detention should be brought forward when we believe it is legally necessary. – And then it must be up to other agencies to ensure that there is space, says Ida Melbo Øystese. Published 01.07.2024, at 05.54
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Lack of prison places for young people – remand prisoners must be released – Greater Oslo
