The Police Directorate initiated works aimed at strengthening the confidence of the police in contacts with minorities in society.
The Norwegian police generally enjoy great confidence among the population. In a police survey of the population in 2020, 82 percent. replied that they trusted the police. At the same time, the police received several feedback in which people from minority backgrounds have experienced over-control, which over time may affect relations and trust in the police.
The police must act with integrity and respect towards all sections of society
- The police relies on social trust. We must earn this trust every day, and the police must act with integrity and respect towards all social groups. We have listened to your views and are now starting to work together to find solutions, says Police Director Benedicte Bjørnland.
Photo: Annika Byrde / NTB
The police should not control people on the basis of ethnicity
Meetings were held both inside the agency and with actors outside the police force to contribute to further work. Opinions have emerged in several circles that they want a receipt system that confirms that the police have carried out a bodyguard.
- We believe there is a need for a system that will ensure sufficient verifiability when people are stopped and checked by the police. Police should not control people on the basis of ethnicity, and police practice should not be viewed as discriminatory, emphasizes Bjørnland.
The Oslo Police District will, inter alia, invite the municipality and selected organizations to cooperate
Further work will focus on how the police can strengthen dialogue and build minority trust in society.
"It is too early to request individual measures, but the Oslo Police District will, among other things, invite the municipality and selected organizations to work together to look more closely at different solutions related to police checks," says Bjørnland.
We want to receive feedback to learn from any mistakes
Anyone who feels aggrieved or treated unfairly by the police is encouraged to file a complaint.
- We want to receive feedback to learn from any mistakes, and at the same time it is an important source of information for improving our services, concludes Bjørnland.
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