Justice Minister Aas-Hansen outlines new measures to curb youth crime

Justice Minister Astri Aas-Hansen presented a package of initiatives aimed at reducing youth crime, featuring new authority for child welfare institutions to inspect mobile phones and online activity. The plan also earmarks resources to boost the interdisciplinary RISK model for preventing violence in close relationships, extend conflict-resolution services for children under 15, and speed up court cases involving minors.

One-to-one support will be expanded to ten municipalities with the highest youth-crime challenges, building on early successes in Oslo. Police officials reported a 25 percent decline in gang-related offenses among minors over the past six months, attributing the trend to coordinated preventive efforts. The minister emphasized that these steps are intended to keep Norway from experiencing the type of youth-crime surge seen in neighboring countries.