Norway's police are pushing for a controversial legal change that would allow officers to detain children under the age of 15 for up to 24 hours. The proposal, requested by the Ministry of Justice and currently under review by four police districts, marks a significant potential shift in how the country handles its youngest suspected offenders. Currently, police can only hold children under the criminal age of responsibility for a maximum of four hours, solely to hand them over to parents or child protection services.
A Response to 'Explosive' Youth Crime
The move follows direct requests from police districts, particularly Oslo, which reports an 'explosive increase' in youth crime. Police argue the current four-hour limit severely hampers investigations into serious offenses committed by children. They claim evidence can be destroyed or lost when officers are forced to quickly drive a suspected child home. The proposed amendment would grant police the authority to apprehend and hold a child for either 12 or 24 hours to conduct interviews and secure evidence, even though the child cannot be formally charged or prosecuted. State Secretary in the Ministry of Justice, Joakim Øren (Labour Party), stated the development of younger children committing more serious crimes is 'strongly worrisome.' He emphasized the government's intent to take action that protects both the children involved and society.
Legal Experts Sound the Alarm
The proposal has met with immediate and fierce criticism from Norway's legal defense community. The Norwegian Bar Association's Defense Group calls the initiative 'populist and poorly thought out.' Defense lawyer Mette Yvonne Larsen, who leads the group, expressed surprise and demanded documentation that such a measure would help rather than harm the child in question. 'We must not lose our heads in cases where there are a lot of headlines about children and crime,' Larsen said. The core criticism centers on the welfare of the child and the lack of proven need. Critics question the legal and ethical foundation for depriving a child of liberty when they, by law, lack criminal responsibility. They argue the focus should remain on child welfare services and early intervention, not on extending police detention powers.
The Current Framework and Proposed Shift
Norway's legal system draws a clear line at age 15. Below that age, a child is not criminally responsible. The police's role is currently limited to temporary custody for transfer to guardians or child protection authorities. For comparison, a suspect aged 15-18 must be presented for formal custody within 24 hours, while for adults the limit is 48 hours. The proposed change blurs this welfare-focused approach for the youngest group by introducing a detention period aligned with older suspects, but without the accompanying judicial oversight required for custody hearings. State Secretary Øren has tried to allay concerns, stating that a change does not necessarily mean children will be 'locked up in a holding cell or another cell.' He said police would take care of them in the 'most considerate way possible.' However, he did not specify what alternative, non-cellular accommodations would be used in police stations nationwide.
Balancing Security and Welfare Principles
This debate strikes at the heart of Norway's identity as a society that prioritizes child welfare and rehabilitation over pure punishment. The children's ombudsman and various child rights organizations are likely to scrutinize any proposal that increases police contact with very young children. The police argument rests on a perceived change in the nature of youth crime—younger perpetrators and more serious acts. Yet, defense attorneys counter that perception is not a substitute for data-driven policy. They argue that extending detention risks traumatizing children and pulling them deeper into the system without addressing root causes like family problems, school difficulties, or gang recruitment. The proposal also raises practical questions about who would care for a detained 10 or 12-year-old in a police station for a full day, and what psychological support would be available.
A National Conversation Begins
The Police Directorate has asked the South-East, Trøndelag, West, and East police districts for their input on whether the detention period should be 12 or 24 hours. The West Police District has already voiced its support. This localized feedback will shape the formal proposal sent to the Ministry of Justice. The process ensures the proposal will face parliamentary debate, where the Labour Party-led government will need to build consensus. The outcome is uncertain, as the plan may face opposition from other parties, even within the government coalition, who are sensitive to critiques from the legal community and child welfare advocates. The discussion will force Norway to define the limits of its penal response in an era of concerning crime trends, testing its commitment to the principle that a child under 15 is first and foremost a child in need of protection, not a suspect in need of detention.
The Road Ahead for Norwegian Justice
As the consultation proceeds, the lack of public data from the Police Directorate on the exact scale and nature of crimes committed by the under-15 group becomes a point of contention. A credible policy change requires transparent evidence. The next steps involve the ministry drafting legislation, followed by a public hearing where child welfare services, the ombudsman, police, and legal experts will submit formal opinions. This process will take months. The final decision will signal whether Norway believes its existing welfare-oriented model is insufficient, or if strengthening early intervention and child protection services is a more effective path than extending police powers. The world often looks to Norway's progressive justice system; how it handles this delicate balance between societal protection and the rights of the very young will be closely watched.