'General armament': Why police in Norway could soon carry guns
Can Norwegian police bear arms today?
Police in Norway - like their counterparts in the IK (apart from Northern Ireland), New Zealand, Ireland, and Iceland - do not carry weapons when carrying out general duties.
Weapons are locked in patrol cars or at police stations, with officers required to obtain permission from the chief of police or someone designated by him/her before they can collect and use weapons.
Some specialized units, like the Emergency Response Unit, or Delta Force, are armed whenever deployed.
Police can also be temporarily armed, as happened in 2024 when there was a widespread threat to mosques around the country during the Eid al-Fitr festival.
READ ALSO:
Police in Norway can now patrol streets with firearms
What is the new law and when was it passed?
The new law,
Changes to the police law: armament in daily service,
will give Norway's National Police Directorate the power decide to arm police officers firearms in their daily work.
The directorate will be able to arm officers without any time limit and regardless of whether there is a severe threat - previously a condition for temporary armament.
The directorate will also decide when officers should be unarmed, such as
when working with children and youth, during school visits, preventive assignments, hospital security, contact with relatives, or when officers are testifying in court.
The directorate can also decide to leave local police forces the right to make an assessment over when or whether armament is necessary.
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When will the new law come into force?
The justice ministry hopes that the new law will come into force some time in 2026, after which it will be up to police chiefs to set the terms and extent of arming officers, depending on location, timing and assignment.
What's the rationale for the change?
There is growing unease over gang crime in Norway, with 38 homicides in 2024, the highest number since 2013. Norway has also suffered several terror attacks over the past few decades, such as the 2022 Oslo shooting, the Bærum mosque shooting, and the 2011 twin attack on Oslo's government quarter and the island of Utøya.
"There has been a change in crime patterns whereby organized criminal networks are now armed," Norway's justice minister Astri Aas-Hansen (Labour Party)
told VG
when she presented the proposal in May. "The police are encountering armed people out there, the threat situation has become sharper. And the police have been very clear in their professional advice to us."
Police Chief Ida Melbo Øystese said: "I am grateful for the trust that politicians in the government and the parliament show when they place so much emphasis on the fact that we in the police believe that general armament has become absolutely necessary."
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Who voted for the proposal?
The change was passed with a large majority: 81 in favour and only 20 against. Only four of the country's 11 parliamentary parties opposed the proposal, the Social Left Party, the Liberal Party, the Red Party, and he Green Party.
Ingvild Wetrhus Thorsvik, from the Liberal Party, said that by passing the law Norway had "crossed a line that marks a radical change for our rule of law".
"With widespread arming, the police lose their civil character," she told Norwegian news agency NTB.
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Local Norway
a day ago
- Local Norway
'General armament': Why police in Norway could soon carry guns
Can Norwegian police bear arms today? Police in Norway - like their counterparts in the IK (apart from Northern Ireland), New Zealand, Ireland, and Iceland - do not carry weapons when carrying out general duties. Weapons are locked in patrol cars or at police stations, with officers required to obtain permission from the chief of police or someone designated by him/her before they can collect and use weapons. Some specialized units, like the Emergency Response Unit, or Delta Force, are armed whenever deployed. Police can also be temporarily armed, as happened in 2024 when there was a widespread threat to mosques around the country during the Eid al-Fitr festival. READ ALSO: Police in Norway can now patrol streets with firearms What is the new law and when was it passed? The new law, Changes to the police law: armament in daily service, will give Norway's National Police Directorate the power decide to arm police officers firearms in their daily work. The directorate will be able to arm officers without any time limit and regardless of whether there is a severe threat - previously a condition for temporary armament. The directorate will also decide when officers should be unarmed, such as when working with children and youth, during school visits, preventive assignments, hospital security, contact with relatives, or when officers are testifying in court. The directorate can also decide to leave local police forces the right to make an assessment over when or whether armament is necessary. Advertisement When will the new law come into force? The justice ministry hopes that the new law will come into force some time in 2026, after which it will be up to police chiefs to set the terms and extent of arming officers, depending on location, timing and assignment. What's the rationale for the change? There is growing unease over gang crime in Norway, with 38 homicides in 2024, the highest number since 2013. Norway has also suffered several terror attacks over the past few decades, such as the 2022 Oslo shooting, the Bærum mosque shooting, and the 2011 twin attack on Oslo's government quarter and the island of Utøya. "There has been a change in crime patterns whereby organized criminal networks are now armed," Norway's justice minister Astri Aas-Hansen (Labour Party) told VG when she presented the proposal in May. "The police are encountering armed people out there, the threat situation has become sharper. And the police have been very clear in their professional advice to us." Police Chief Ida Melbo Øystese said: "I am grateful for the trust that politicians in the government and the parliament show when they place so much emphasis on the fact that we in the police believe that general armament has become absolutely necessary." Advertisement Who voted for the proposal? The change was passed with a large majority: 81 in favour and only 20 against. Only four of the country's 11 parliamentary parties opposed the proposal, the Social Left Party, the Liberal Party, the Red Party, and he Green Party. Ingvild Wetrhus Thorsvik, from the Liberal Party, said that by passing the law Norway had "crossed a line that marks a radical change for our rule of law". "With widespread arming, the police lose their civil character," she told Norwegian news agency NTB.
Local Norway
a day ago
- Local Norway
Police in Norway can now patrol streets with firearms
Lawmakers overwhelmingly backed a proposal from the minority Labour government to allow the widespread arming of police. It will be up to police chiefs to set the terms and extent of arming officers, depending on location, timing and assignment. No exact date has been set for the law to come into effect but the country's justice ministry, which is in charge of internal security, is targeting sometime next year. "Everyone in Norway must feel safe. The police must be able to deal with constantly evolving crime," Justice Minister Astri Aas-Hansen said last month when the proposed law change was unveiled. Norway's crime rate is low compared to other countries around the world but is edging upwards. Advertisement The Scandinavian country, which is home to 5.6 million people, saw 38 homicides in 2023 -- the highest number since 2023, according to police violent crime figures. Currently, Norwegian police can only carry weapons for limited periods and in special circumstances. Normally, they are unarmed, although weapons may still be carried in the boot of their vehicle. Lawmaker Ingvild Wetrhus Thorsvik, whose centrist Liberal Party was one of the few to oppose the proposal, said Norway had "crossed a line that marks a radical change for our rule of law". "With widespread arming, the police lose their civil character," she was quoted as saying by Norwegian news agency NTB.
Local Norway
3 days ago
- Local Norway
KEY POINTS: How Norwegian parties' election pledges could affect foreigners
CONSERVATIVE PARTY Economy and Taxation If it wins, The Conservative Party is pledging a broad tax-cutting agenda: Income tax reductions for all Abolish wealth tax on "working capital", and a higher threshold for wealth tax over all. Repeal of stricter 2024 exit tax rules. Under the proposed changes, foreigners will only be taxed on Norwegian-earned capital gains once realised - not upon leaving the country. Work permits and Labour Migration The Conservative Party is positive towards skilled labour migration and is promising: A fast-track permit scheme for highly skilled workers, modelled on Denmark' recognition of foreign qualifications and the potential for a joint Nordic recognition scheme. Allowing skilled workers to get permits even without formal qualifications. Citizenship, residency and family reunification The party takes a tougher line on foreigners who want to stay in Norway, pledging: An increase the minimum level of spoken Norwegian required for citizenship from B1 to B2. Applicants will be ineligible for citizenship if they have debts to the public sector, have missed tax payments, or have been required to repay public benefits. Dual citizens could lose Norwegian citizenship if found guilty of serious crimes. Permanent residence will require four years of financial self-sufficiency, no public debt, and verified ID. Tighter rules for family reunion, with a requirement that relatives who come to Norway need learn Norwegian and that their relatives in Norway show they are able to support them Advertisement Labour Party Economy and taxation While the other two big parties want to cut tax, the Labour Party is pledging to keep tax levels the same while expanding the state involvement in the economy. It is pledging: Keep the combined taxes and fees paid by people and companies in Norway at the same level as today. Tighten regulations on the marketing consumer loans and credit cards, unreasonably high interest rates on consumer loans and 262 limiting earnings from debt collection Work permits and Labour Migration The Labour Party wants to help foreigners in Norway find work by: Faster skills assessment for newly arrived immigrants, including those without documentation, to be carried out by the Norwegian Labour and Welfare Administration (NAV) Expanded language training, including better access for migrant workers and their families. Improved NAV procedures to help immigrants find work faster. Make Norway "a more attractive country for international researchers and students". Citizenship, residency and family reunion Labour has only modest plans for this area, pledging: A review of citizenship regulations, including the rules for and practice of revoking citizenship. Shorter waitinng times for family reunification application Work to reduce the processing time and waiting time for applications for family reunification Stronger self-sufficiency requirements for sponsoring family members. Introduction of an "integration contract" obligating both parties to complete language and cultural training, with penalties for non-compliance. Advertisement PROGRESS PARTY Economy and taxation The Progress Party is fighting this election on a promise of aggressive tax cuts: Reduced tax rates for all income groups. Abolish Norway's wealth tax (currently 1.1 percent on any assets above a threshold of 1.7 million kroner) Cut VAT on food from 15 percent to 7.5 percent Abolish property tax ( eiendomsskatt ). This is currently levied by municipalities and can be up to 0.4 percent of the taxable value of the property. Cap electricity prices at 50 øre per kWh . Slash road taxes, fuel taxes, and abolish road tolls. Citizenship and Permanent Residency While the Progress Party is not campaigning on an anti-immigration platform, its policies remain the most radical on citizenship, permanent residency and immigration. The Progress Party is proposing the most far-reaching changes to citizenship and residency requirements, pledging to: Extend the required residency period to gain citizenship to 10 years (currently 7). It will be five years for spouses of Norwegians. Raise the bar for permanent residence to 8 years (currently 5). Impose tougher language and self-sufficiency tests. Require new citizens to swear allegiance at a mandatory ceremony. Strip dual citizens of citizenship if convicted of terrorism, gang crime or other serious offences. Immigration and integration Asylum centers to be established in Africa and Asia, with asylum seekers sent out while their cases are processed. A package "of significantly greater value", to incentivise immigrants to return to their countries of origin Conditional unemployment benefits tied to completion of language, civics, and job-training courses Language test for four-year-olds to target early intervention in immigrant-heavy areas. Moratorium on refugee resettlement in areas where non-Western immigrants exceed 15 percent of the population. Refugees only allowed to settle in municipalities with proven quality services and job markets. Mandatory deportation of any foreigner sentenced to more than 3 months' prison. Ban on religious garments in public authority roles, hijabs in primary schools, and face coverings in public spaces and schools. End free legal aid for immigration cases.
