Round table
June 19, 2003
Center for the Study of Democracy
On June 19, 2003 CSD hosted
a discussion on Norway's experience in countering corruption in
security forces and public services. The discussion is part of
events aimed at facilitating the exchange of advanced expertise and
experience between Norwegian and Bulgarian institutions to prepare
the Bulgarian law enforcement officers to prevent corruption.
Senior police officers from Norway met with experts from CSD Expert
Group on Trafficking and Corruption, Ministry of Interior, the MoI
Academy and the Bulgarian Open Government Initiative to share
experience in countering corruption.
Mr. Stein Ulrich, Chief Constable, Mr. Tor
Backe-Hansen, Chief of Police, Mr. Erling Bшrstad, Assistant Chief
of Police and Ms. Margrethe Bjonge, Adviser in the International
Section of the National Police Service of Norway emphasized the
importance of the cooperation with East European countries which is
useful not only for the beneficiary countries but it also
stimulates the development of the Norwegian police system.
Generally, there are few cases of corruption in the
public services, the judiciary and the police in Norway. Corruption
appears to be a serious problem in the big oil companies operating
in the country. There have been also cases of internal corruption
(selling visas, falsifying documents etc.) in the national
immigration service which employs foreign born residents to help
solving ethnic problems.
During the conversation different methods to prevent
and combat crime were discussed with the purpose to find a suitable
approach for reducing crime and reforming law enforcement services
in Bulgaria.
Mr. Ulrich said that the Norwegian police were
undergoing reforms with the aim to reduce the administrative
barriers to the operational work and to bring the police closer to
the public. The 54 police districts were reorganized and reduced to
27. The chiefs of the police districts are elected for a period of
6 years and keep their rang beyond the end of their mandate.
“Community policing” in Norway was given as a good
example of collaborative effort between the police and the
community to identify problems of crime and disorder. It is
targeting domestic violence, drug and alcohol abuse and juvenile
crime. An interesting and very positive example of community
policing is the formation of voluntary groups of adults called
“night ravens” which patrol every Saturday and Sunday nights and
can alarm the police in case of disturbance of the public order in
the respective district.
The Norwegian police officers shared the
opinion that the “zero tolerance” method in fighting the organized
crime was not applicable neither acceptable for Norway where the
police officers are very well educated and trained. The trust in
law enforcement services is very important because they are
expected to give flexible responses. A suggestion was made that the
method could be used only in a narrow sector of combating
crime.
For more see:
Visit of
Norwegian police officials - Sept., 2002
Round table discussion feat. Judge Eva Joly
- Oct., 2002
Prevention of corruption in security forces
project
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