The Norwegian Police Directorate, Kripos and Økokrim presented at 12 o’clock what threats they believe threaten our society. – Organized crime is a significant threat to Norway. Cocaine smuggling has become more professional, seizures are increasing, the degree of force is increasing, says Kripos chief Kristin Kvigne. She says the police are concerned about an increased level of conflict where the threat from Swedish actors is increasing. – Certain Swedish criminal networks have a high capital of violence and fear and have built networks as their own brand, the police write. Threatening society This year’s threat assessment emphasizes threats to society as a whole. – One of the reasons for this is the police’s concern that organized criminal networks established in Europe will establish themselves in Norway in such a way that it could threaten central social institutions, the police write in the report. – Organized crime threatens our common societal values, says police director Benedicte Bjørnland at the press conference. Another reason is the changed security policy situation in Europe. Violence among minors is a concern The police see an increased incidence of violence and other serious crime among minors. In 2023, the number of violent cases involving young perpetrators increased by 37 per cent from the previous year. The police are particularly concerned that there is also a negative development when it comes to robbery, illegal arming with knives and firearms as well as serious bodily harm. Police director Benedicte Bjørnland (right), Kristin Kvigne and Økokrim chief Pål Lønseth. Photo: Håvard Greger Hagen / news Organized crime In Europe, the threat from organized crime has never been higher, the report states. This year’s report downplays “everyday crime”, which primarily affects individuals, in order to place more emphasis on activity that threatens the whole of society. In Norway too, the threat from organized criminals is significant, the police believe. Several highly profit-motivated criminal networks operate in Norway, and many of these are involved in the sale, distribution and importation of drugs. Among other things, this has become visible to the population through the record-breaking cocaine seizures in Norway in 2023. Warns against “deepfake” Artificial intelligence can be used to deceive people, and cause us to lose trust in banks and other institutions, warns Økokrim chief Pål Lønseth . He says people can pretend to be others on the phone and video. This can make future frauds even more credible. This is often referred to as “deepfake”, meaning that a photo or video is something other than what you think. It is a dangerous development, he says. – If people lose trust in public agencies, banks and each other, there is danger afoot. It tears away one of the biggest assets that Norwegian society has – high trust. It undermines our whole society, he says. Sexual blackmail Sexual blackmail with a financial motive is often carried out by professional criminal actors who are located abroad. Among other things, well-organized call centers that operate on a global level have been uncovered. The report describes an almost industrial form of extortion. The extortion takes place through the use of fake accounts, where victims are led to take nude photos or film themselves while performing sexual acts. The victim is then pressured to pay so that the perpetrator will not share the material with, for example, the victim’s friends, family or followers in various social media. There are examples of boys and young men who have paid several thousand kroner as a result of the extortion. Payment in cryptocurrency is often requested.
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Violence among minors and organized crime worry the police – news Norway – Overview of news from different parts of the country
