Over 400 children stayed in isolation cell and police custody last year

Minister of Justice and Public Security Anders Anundsen ( Progress Party )Minister of Justice and Public Security Anders Anundsen ( Progress Party ).Photo regjeringen.no

482 children stayed in police custody or isolation cell in 2015. Ten of them were under 14 years which is considered as a violation of Norwegian law and several international conventions.

In compare with 632 children arrested in 2014 and 1175 Children arrested in 2012, the figures from 2015 showing a trend in the right direction, says Children’s Ombudsman.

– There are two things to say: It is satisfactory that the numbers go down, it is positive and we hope it continues, but we still believe that they are quite high, It will be ideal if there are no children in detention, says senior adviser Anders Cameron in Children ‘s Ombudsman to ABC News.

Justice Minister Anders Anundsen said it is good that the numbers are going down.
– I have the definite impression that the police are more conscious about it than before. They are determined to get the number down, but probably it will barely get to stage that you get completely out of these cases but an improvement is good, says Anundsen.

Justice Minister says children under 18 should not be in jail, but there will be some exemptions particularly when it is considered as serious crimes

Cameron from Children’s Ombudsman believes children should not be in jail and child welfare service could be considered as an option for “handling the disruptive children’s”. The Children’s Ombudsman has earlier reported the situation to the UN and says they are going to submit the new figures.

– Norway has been criticized before, and will be criticized again, says Cameron.

 

Source: NTB scanpix / Norway Today