2023 was the worst murder year in Norway in ten years. More than half of the victims had a close relationship with the perpetrator. So far this year, twelve people have been killed in nine different murder cases. In the grim statistics, several of the murders have occurred in families. Summary of the case The number of reports of abuse in close relationships is increasing in Norway, but few cases end up in court. Over 20 percent of the cases were dropped after investigation due to a lack of evidence, and 17 percent of the trials ended in acquittal. The police believe that there are large numbers of unknowns within intimate partner violence, and that many of the cases take time to investigate. The Attorney General has ordered the police districts to prioritize cases involving violence in close relationships. The summary is made by an AI service from OpenAi. The content is quality assured by news’s journalists before publication. In 2023, 7 out of 12 police districts registered more cases of abuse in close relationships than the year before, according to figures news has received from the Norwegian Police Directorate. Over 20 percent of the cases were dropped after the investigation, due to a lack of evidence. 17 percent of the trials ended in acquittal. Alleged to have beaten his wife and children for 10 years One of the cases in which charges have been brought is a case against a man in his 30s from Drammen. The wife must have been threatened that she would have to leave the country if she spoke about what happened, says police attorney Birgit Austad. Police attorney Birgit Austad says it is extra serious when the children are directly affected. Photo: Idar Hole Krogstad / news – Both the victim and their common child are covered by the violence. Often the children have only seen violence, but in this case the children are direct victims, and it is extra serious, she says. The violence is said to have taken place regularly from 2011–2022. Also while the wife was pregnant with one of the children, she is said to have been kicked or beaten in the stomach and head. The children are said to have been beaten with objects and threatened not to tell anyone about what happened. The case was reported in 2022. The South-East police district is one of the seven districts that had an increase in reports of abuse in close relationships last year. The court case is one of several cases with the same problem that Buskerud district court will hear in February. The police: Probably big dark figures The criminal provision on abuse in family relationships was introduced from 1 January 2006. It brought together various types of physical and psychological abuse in family and close relationships so that they were reported, investigated and sentenced as a separate case. Such cases have a high priority according to the head of the section for sexual offenses and violence against children in the South-East police district, Heidi Beckmann: Heidi Beckmann in the South-East police district says there are strict requirements for the evidence. Photo: Benedikte Fjelly / news – We have investigated, or are under investigation, 375 cases that were reported and registered last year. Sometimes it is the person who has been victimized who himself reports after seeking help at a crisis centre. In other cases, the police become aware of the case via child welfare services, nurseries and schools. – Many of the cases take time to investigate, and the requirements for evidence during a trial are so high that charges are not always brought, or end with a verdict, says Beckmann. She says that all cases that are reported are prioritized as the Attorney General has instructed the police districts. Last December at the latest. Even if there is help to be had, it is difficult to break out of destructive and violent relationships. – Research shows that there are probably a number of hidden figures within violence in close relationships. This includes both violence and sexual offenses in close relationships. The legal counsel for the trial Anne Marie Sundby is the legal counsel for the woman who will tell the Buskerud District Court in February about the alleged abuse and mistreatment. – For her, it is important that society has increased focus on this type of matter. Because it can help others in similar situations to get out. And that you are not alone, but learn that there is help to be had. She does not want to elaborate on how the woman got help to break out of the relationship, but says on a general basis that it is important that people know about the help available. – And that we have good offers, such as the shelters. The accused ex-husband of the woman has changed defense counsel since the police started an investigation. news has been in contact with the lawyer, who has not yet met his client to talk about the pending trial. It is therefore not known how he will respond to the indictment. The Attorney General: – Must be prioritized Before Christmas last year, the Attorney General sent a reminder to all the country’s police districts that cases dealing with violence in close relationships must be prioritized. – How are you going to manage it in practice when many people don’t dare to report? – It is important that employees in the police and the prosecution have sufficient expertise on special conditions that may apply to the case, so that this violence is uncovered, and so that the right protective measures are implemented, says state attorney Tone Aase to news. – Uncovering and clarifying cases of violence in close relationships often requires information from and cooperation with the health system, schools, kindergartens and other support services. Large variation The largest increase in reported cases was in the Sør-West police district. Followed by Innlandet and West police district. Increase in several places South-West police district: From 135 cases in 2022, to 192 in 2023. Inland police district: 214 cases in 2022 and 258 last year. Vest police district: 215 cases in 2022 – and 241 cases in 2023. Five police districts had a decrease in the number of reports from 2022 to 2023. The largest decrease was in Trøndelag police district with 51 cases The corona pandemic has previously been pointed to as a reason why fewer cases of violence are detected and reviewed. – It is important that such social actors have a good enough knowledge of the duty and right to report such violence to the police, says Aase. She believes it is important that victims are confident that they will receive adequate protection if they report. – Through international agreements, the Norwegian authorities have undertaken to protect the population against violence and abuse. The police and public prosecutors must take the necessary measures to ensure effective investigation and prosecution of violence in close relationships.
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Reports family violence, but few cases end up in court – news Buskerud – Local news, TV and radio
