Parliament says no to general armament – Dagsavisen

By Johan Falnes

The issue has come up in Parliament this spring through a representative proposals where Left requesting a clarification that the general arming of the police not to take place. The matter is discussed Tuesday in plenary.

Justice Committee submitted its recommendation on the matter on 14 April. No party goes where in general arming of the police.

– I am very glad that the Liberals will support the proposal, saying proposer and parliament Iselin Nybø.

– Long tradition

The consequence of armament may be that the police lose their civilian character, and that there may be more, not less, dangerous situations, according Nybø .

– Norway has a long tradition of having a civilian and unarmed police. One of the qualities of our society is the high confidence of citizens to each other and the government says Nybø.

Progress notes that the party wants to give police “easier access to weapons.” Yet also goes FRP in the current practice of an unarmed police maintained until further notice.

Conservatives and the Progress Party will not rule out that there may be a proposal for general armament in the future if the situation warrant.

Temporary armament

The question of politibevæpning has enjoyed renewed interest through the temporary Armament introduced last fall.

The reason for the temporary Armament is that Police Security Service believes there is an increased risk of terrorist attacks against uniformed personnel. Armament was introduced in late November and has since been extended several times.

Justice Minister Anders Anundsen (FRP) has assured that the temporary Armament not be any creeping introduction of general armament . But he can not say when the temporary arrangement is terminated.

“It will largely be circumstances beyond political control that affects this,” wrote Anundsen recently in an answer to a written questions from Labour’s Hadia Tajik.

Treatment

In its political platform states the Conservatives and the Progress Party that they will “open for general armament of the police districts where the police believe it is the best solution. ” But such a proposal has not yet manifested itself.

It has been held two hearings on the matter, and the feedback from these is currently under consideration by the Ministry of Justice, says party groups in Parliament.

Right, FRP and KrF also agree that the experience of the interim Armament must be evaluated. The parties also want to involve Parliament to a greater extent when police Arming long time. (NTB)