Police can't keep up with
criminals in Oslo
The Oslo Police District is snowed under by the sheer number of criminal cases in the capital, and only 21 percent of reported offenses were handled last year. Investigators claim they don't have the time, staffing or resources to cope with their workload. Jan Olav Frantsvold is among those overwhelmed by the number of criminal cases the Oslo Police District is expected to handle. PHOTO: ARASH NEJAD |
The situation worsened when investigators refused to work overtime at the end of the year. More than 10,000 cases remained in the legal queue in Oslo when 2007 came to a close.
"This is unfortunate for the credibility of and confidence in the police," said Oslo district chief public prosecutor Morten Yggeseth. He added that this trend has significance for the country’s security.
The Oslo Police District also is faced with a large number of vacant positions in its legal department tnat have been difficult to fill. Norway's labour shortage and strong economy apparently has hit the police district's recruiting ability. Fully 80 positions, 10 percent of the total, remained vacant last year.
Oslo Police Chief Anstein Gjengedal said he was "surprised and disappointed" that police lawyers refused to work overtime, while other employees took part in a year-end campaign to improve the 2007 statistics.
Gjengedal says the police have had to prioritize which cases they pursue, with cases involving violence at the top of the list. "If the choice is between a violent case and a shoplifting case, it’s obvious which one will be shelved," said Gjengedal.
Oslo Police District Union leader Jan Olav Frantsvold said that the refusal to work overtime shouldn't have come as a surprise to the Oslo Police top executives. He says the Norwegian Parliament was warned about the situation 10 months ago.
"This is a vicious circle," explained Frantsvold. The older the cases, the more inquiries we get from the frustrated victims of crime. Many are upset, with good reason, when even cases with known perpetrators are not concluded after many months."
He adds that as a result, an undue amount of time and resources are used on explaining the situation to those who complain.
Arild M Jonassen
Aftenposten English Web Desk
Catherine Stein
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