The police in Norway: a profile

This paper describes the current state of policing in Norway. Interview data were collected from police administrators, police academy instructors, and police recruits. In addition, observational data were collected from patrol ride‐alongs. The organizational structure of Norwegian police at the national level; individual police stations; police recruitment and training; traffic regulation, law enforcement, order maintenance and crime prevention; and police‐public interactions in Norway are discussed. Distinct features of the Norwegian police include a flat hierarchy, strong union influence, and informal selection methods, all of which derive from the unique sociodemographic and geographic landscape of Norway combined with the influence of British and European models of policing.