According to NRK, the police are experiencing a staffing crisis with many quitting, and over the last four years more than a thousand police officers have left. Unn Alma Skatvold, leader of the Police Federation, noted that more people are quitting the police than can be replaced. The police also describe the threat from criminal networks as increasing.
In response, the Progress Party (Frp) has proposed a one-year police education for armed personnel to take over tasks within guard, security, and transport. Jon Helgheim, an Frp member and chair of the justice committee in the Storting, believes one year of education at the Police University College is enough to solve tasks like guarding demonstrations and embassies. However, the proposal faces strong opposition.
The Police Federation is critical, with Skatvold warning it could create American conditions. Julie Stuestøl, an MDG member and second deputy chair of the justice committee, rejects the proposal, stating that having low-educated armed police could create more dangerous situations. Justice and Emergency Preparedness Minister Astri Aas-Hansen (Ap) is against the Frp proposal and wants to increase admissions to the regular police education instead.
The staffing strain is exacerbated by resource demands; in Oslo, nearly 150 full-time equivalent positions are used for guard duty, according to Skatvold.