Norwegian Police Service

From Wikipedia, the free encyclopedia

The Norwegian Police Service (Norwegian: Politi- og lensmannsetaten) is the official, and only, police force in Norway which are run by the Minister of Justice and Police. The department consists of 27 regional areas and seven national special forces. The department has about 11 000 employees.

The police districts consist of police stations and district offices. Police stations are led by a chief of police who is responsible for the geographical district around his precinct. Each police regional district has its own police commissioner who is the leader of that district's police practice. This means that different districts can have slightly different laws depending on local requirements.

Norway is one of the few countries where the police handles prosecution as well as investigation of criminals and criminal acts. The police officers investigates the crime, and then police attorneys decide if they should take the case to court.

Norwegian police do not carry firearms on a daily basis and if need arises they have to get permission by the police commissioner or someone authorized by him or her.

As a part of the anti-terror work after the September 11, 2001 attacks every regional area has its own mobile unit which is specially trained to handle these types of missions.

The police are also a part of the Norwegian rescue service and are responsible for leading the rescue work on accidents and disasters. This is especially an issue in the western part of Norway where there can be rather extreme weather at sea. This work is being done via to main dispatch centrals in Stavanger and Bodø.

Contents

[edit] Police misconduct in Norway

See main article Police misconduct in Norway

Police misconduct has become an issue of high media attention in Norway. The death of Eugene Ejike Obiora, a naturalized Norwegian of Nigerian origin in September 2006 stirred an uproar that as of September 2007 has caused the authorities to announce significant changes to the way charges of police brutality and other forms of police misconduct, including corruption involving the Norwegian police will be handled on the future.

[edit] Regional districts

  1. Oslo politidistrikt, covering Oslo county.
  2. Østfold politidistrikt, covering Østfold county.
  3. Follo politidistrikt, covering the southern parts of Akershus county and northeastern Østfold.
  4. Romerike politidistrikt, covering the northern parts of Akershus county.
  5. Hedmark politidistrikt, covering Hedmark county.
  6. Gudbrandsdal politidistrikt, covering the northern parts of Oppland, the Gudbrandsdal valley.
  7. Vestoppland politidistrikt, covering the southern and western parts of Oppland county.
  8. Nordre Buskerud politidistrikt, covering the northern part of Buskerud county.
  9. Søndre Buskerud politidistrikt, covering the southern part of Buskerud county.
  10. Asker og Bærum politidistrikt, covering Asker and Bærum municipalities.
  11. Vestfold politidistrikt, covering Vestfold county.
  12. Telemark politidistrikt, covering Vestfold county.
  13. Agder politidistrikt, covering Vest-Agder and Aust-Agder.
  14. Rogaland politidistrikt, covering Rogaland except Haugalandet.
  15. Haugaland og Sunnhordland politidistrikt, covering the southern parts of Hordaland and northern parts of Rogaland, around Haugesund.
  16. Hordaland politidistrikt, covering Hordaland county.
  17. Sogn og Fjordane politidistrikt, covering Sogn og Fjordane county.
  18. Sunnmøre politidistrikt, covering the southern parts of Møre og Romsdal county.
  19. Nordmøre og Romsdal politidistrikt, covering the northern and central parts of Møre og Romsdal county.
  20. Sør-Trøndelag politidistrikt, covering Sør-Trøndelag county.
  21. Nord-Trøndelag politidistrikt, covering Nord-Trøndelag county.
  22. Helgeland politidistrikt, covering the southern parts of Nordland county.
  23. Salten politidistrikt, covering the central parts of Nordland county.
  24. Midtre Hålogaland politidistrikt, covering the western parts of Troms county and northern Nordland county, including Lofoten except Værøy and Røst.
  25. Troms politidistrikt, covering Troms, except the western parts.
  26. Vestfinnmark politidistrikt, covering the western parts of Finnmark county.
  27. Østfinnmark politidistrikt, covering the eastern parts of Finnmark county.

[edit] National Police Units / Structure

Royal Ministry of Justice and Police

  • National Police Directorate (POD)
    • 27 Police districts
      • Rural police districts
      • Local police stations
    • National Criminal Investigation Service (NCIS, Kripos)
    • National Police Immigration Service (PU)
    • National Police Computing and Material Service
    • Norwegian Police University College
    • National Authority for Investigation and Prosecution of Economic and Environmental Crime (Økokrim)
    • Central Mobile Police Service (UP)
    • The Norwegian Border Commissioner for the Norwegian-Russian Border

[edit] Special Units of Oslo Police Department with national responsibilities

[edit] Police attorney ranks

  • Politimester (Chief of Police)¹
  • Politiadvokat (Police Prosecutor)¹
  • Politifullmektig (Junior Police Prosecutor)¹

[edit] Police ranks

  • Politidirektør (National Police Commissioner )¹
  • Assisterende politidirektør (Deputy National Police Commissioner )¹
  • Politimester (Chief of Police)¹
  • Visepolitimester (Deputy Chief of Police)¹
  • Politiinspektør (Deputy Chief of Police)¹
  • Politioverbetjent (Police Superintendent)
  • Politiførstebetjent (Police Chief Inspector)
  • Politibetjent 3 (Police Inspector)
  • Politibetjent 2 (Police Sergeant)
  • Politibetjent 1 (Police Constable)

¹ Attorney.