The police’s citizen survey shows that most of us still have a high level of trust in the police. 72 percent of the citizens answer that they have very high or fairly high trust. 9 percent say they have fairly low or very low trust. But the survey also shows a slightly negative trend. Among those whose trust in the police has changed, there are more who have gained lower trust than the group who answer that they have gained higher trust. However, most people have not changed their trust in the police. – I am satisfied that we generally have a high level of confidence. But we wish it wasn’t the case that 11 percent say they have lost trust in the police, says police director Benedicte Bjørnland to news. Henlagt It is two years since Jennifer Forfang was at a party with friends where she believes she was sexually assaulted. Shortly after the incident, she called the police. She was transported to the abuse center. The next day, she reported the case. Then it was dropped. Forfang says that she experienced that the police initially took the case seriously, but that she felt less of a priority during the investigation. – They spent a very long time contacting possible witnesses. Then they dismissed the case for lack of evidence, and explained that it was summer, says Forfang. This is the second time Forfang has experienced that the police use the time of year as an explanation for why the investigation ends, and the case is dropped. LESS TRUST: Forfang explains that her trust in the police has decreased after the two reports, Photo: private – I reported a burglary which was also dismissed, and the explanation was that it was summer, says Forfang. Forfang explains that her trust in the police has became less after the two reviews, as she did not get the help she sought. Many critical of the meeting with the police The Director of Police has particularly noticed the group that has been in contact with the police in connection with unwanted or criminal incidents. Just over half felt that they had been received in a good and serious way. But 35 percent answered that it had not been a good meeting. – This is not how it should be. We have a job to do here, says Bjørnland. The police citizen survey 2022 The police citizen survey is an annual survey of citizens’ perceptions of the police in Norway. The survey was previously conducted over the phone, but is now online. The change of data collection method means that the results for the citizen survey for 2022 cannot be compared directly with historical results from 2021 or earlier. The data collection was carried out in the period 23 November 2022 – 2 January 2023. A total of 139,400 people received an invitation to the survey and 27,619 responded. The results from the survey are representative in terms of the distribution of the Norwegian population by gender, age, education and police district. The survey was carried out by Kantar public. This is a question that has not been asked before. And it provides new insight for the police, explains the police director. – It is important for us in the educational process and important to convey to all our employees who are in contact with the public, she says. GOT AN ANSWER: Police Director Benedicte Bjørnland photographed at the presentation of the police’s threat assessment for 2023. Photo: Hanna Johre / NTB Different reasons for lower trust What affects trust in the police is complex. Those who state that their trust has decreased give these reasons in the survey: Several individual cases where the police’s investigation has been criticised, for example the Baneheia court scandals and the murder of Karmøy. A general perception of lack of prioritization of crime for profit, closure of cases, lack of resources, often linked to the local police reform. Negative perception of attitudes among police employees, internal affairs, notifications, sexual harassment, etc. Perceptions of the consequences of the local police reform. The arming of the police and several shooting incidents, the use of weapons. The police and the drug reform debate, affiliation with the Norwegian Narcotics Police Association. Mixing of roles HAD TO COURT: Bengt Waldow was prosecuted for having put up “wanted” posters by top police officers in the NNPF. Photo: Julia Thommessen / news The former lawyer Bengt Waldow has been very critical of the police’s association with the Norwegian Narcotics Police Association (NNPF). He was prosecuted for hanging up “wanted” posters of police officers with prominent positions in the anti-drugs organization NNPF. Later, the police received criticism for mixing up roles, and the case against Waldow is headed for closure. – There are many people who have been treated infinitely worse than I have been, comments Waldow, and highlights the police searches in search of user doses.
ttn-69
New report shows lower trust in the police – news Norway – Overview of news from different parts of the country
