On 11 October, four Russians were arrested in Mosjøen. A few days earlier, the police had received tips that the people had taken illegal photos of the coast guard base at Sortland. The four were charged under the Information Act section 6 first paragraph, cf. section 3 second paragraph: for having recorded or otherwise used information relating to certain designated objects worthy of screening or activity taking place in or at such objects. A week later, the Russians were released from custody. The police had found no photos of anything illegal. But how secret is the coast guard base in Sortland? Thrives on the internet The Coast Guard base is located in the center of Sortland. A search on the internet with “Kystsvaktbase Sortland” provides a lot of information. Address Telephone number Size Tasks for the employees Lots of pictures The Sortlandsbrua crosses the Sortlandssundet. If you stand in the middle of the bridge and look southwest, you will see the coast guard base. The base is shown on the map. In Google Maps there are pictures of the base from two sides as well as a picture of employees in a boat. The Coast Guard base is located in the center of Sortland, close to Kiwi Havnegata and Circle K Sortland. Photo: National security authorities In the past, news has mentioned that Russian trawlers have docked side by side at the base. The base doesn’t seem to be particularly secret. The same applies to a number of other military areas that news has taken a closer look at, such as Ørland air station and Haakonsvern. Nevertheless: – The Security Act states that it is not allowed to photograph military areas. There must be signs around all such bases, says Torill Herland, commander captain and head of communications in the Norwegian Navy. What can be harmful? So what can actually be harmful to the Armed Forces if new photos are taken when there are many photos of an object worthy of screening already? What is vulnerable? Former intelligence chief Ola Kaldager is ready in his case. – Intelligence is a puzzle with many small pieces. – Intelligence means that you always want to know more. If you get close enough, you can photograph people and the activity there. – But can’t you manage with images that already exist to get an overview? – If you constantly acquire new details, it can mean that you get a total overview of who does what, and in the worst case, where the people live. It’s about getting to know everything. That is often the goal if you have bad intentions, he says. – But the provisions in the legislation have been there for many years. It may seem that a clear spotlight has only now been directed at this. Why do you think that is so? – This includes the naivety that has existed. Now all ears and eyes are focused on the fact that this is something we don’t want, whereas for 20 years you may not have taken it so seriously. It pays off, he says. Must follow up tip A couple of days after the tip that the Russians took pictures in Sortland, the Russian-registered car was stopped in a random check in Mosjøen. During the check, the police found that the registration number matched the tip they had received earlier. Gaute Rydmark, police attorney in the Nordland police district, says they had to react to the tip. – When you get concrete evidence that there is a violation of the photo ban, you almost have to act on it, he says to news. Police attorney Gaute Rydmark says the police have to act on tips about violations of the photo ban. Photo: Christer Aass / Police When asked how strict they usually are on such photo bans, he replies that it is difficult to say anything in general. – You have to follow up on tips that come in. It is difficult to say how strict one is in general. In such matters, you are most dependent on the public. They are often the ones who observe it. As the situation is now, the public is more observant of suspicious activity. The Russians have always claimed that they are tourists passing through. That hypothesis has been strengthened through the police investigation. It’s not about nationality – Is it the times we’re in now that are causing a reaction against these Russians and not other tourists? – When you have received a tip that it must have been photographed and you find a lot of photographic equipment during the search, it quickly becomes a bigger situation where you have to clarify what actually happened, Rydmark replies and adds: – If they only had a camera or a mobile phone with them, it could have been checked out quite quickly. – Is it aggravating that it is about Russians? The four Russians were arrested by the police in Mosjøen. Photo: Ole-Christian Olsen / news – They were detained due to the risk of tampering with evidence. It is independent of their nationality. Rydmark further explains that there is no suspicion of drone flight and that they have not found telephoto lenses. – Have you got to the bottom of who these people are? – What we have found out so far is that there are Russian tourists. Everything points to that. If you take a picture of the center of Sortland, the base is shown well. Photo: Synnøve Sundby Fallmyr / news What happens with the charge in the future, PST must answer, informs Rydmark. – Do the police take any self-criticism on their handling? – No, you have to look at that. An assessment must be made of it when some time has passed, which we do in all cases. Then you have to look at what you have done and whether you should have done something differently.
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