Norway

Law enforcement services in Norway are provided by the country’s single national police force called “Politi”.  With a strength of more than 11,000 men and women for a population of less than 5 million, the force excercises its activities in its 27 ‘police districts’.

Part of the Ministry of Justice and Police, the force is subordinate to the National Police Directorate, which manages, supervises and develops the Force, its regional police districts and the special police units.

Ministry structure:

• Department of Migration;
• Correctional Services;
• Legislation;
• Polar Affairs;
• Planning and Administration;
• Police;
• Rescue and Emergency;
• Civil Affairs;
• Press and Information.

National Criminal Investigation Service Norway

Core activities

• Criminal investigation;
• Forensic services;
• Criminal intelligence;
• International police cooperation.

The National Criminal Investigation Service (NCIS) – called ‘KRIPOS” in Norwegian – is the national centre specialized in fighting organized and serious crime. Its main mission is to support local police districts and to serve as the national platform for contact with police authorities around the world.  

NCIS provides criminal investigation and forensic services, and acts as a national advisory body to all Norwegian law enforcement bodies. Apart from its role as a support agency, NCIS is also tasked with investigating and prosecuting complex and serious organized crime cases.   In such cases, it reports to the National Authority for Prosecution of Organized and Other Serious Crime.

NCIS develops new policing techniques and is very active in sharing knowledge with local police districts through courses, lectures, partner agency visiting schemes and the electronic knowledge sharing platform called “KO:DE”. NCIS also heads the national Identification Commission which is called upon to deal with accidents and disasters.

About 50% of NCIS staff are trained law enforcement officials.  The remaining 50% have non-police positions such as caseworkers and forensic, administrative and support staff.

INTERPOL Oslo

The INTERPOL National Central Bureau (NCB) for Norway is part of NCIS, and serves as the main platform for Norwegian and international investigations relating to Norwegian nationals, or crimes committed by non-Norwegian nationals in Norway.