Research project The evaluation examines how Conducted Energy Weapons (CEW) have affected Norwegian police and citizens, with a focus on usage, effectiveness, safety, relationships, and trust. Data is collected through surveys, interviews, and focus groups during 2025 to provide insights and improve future police work.
The purpose of the evaluation is to investigate how the introduction of CEW has functioned within the Norwegian police, focusing on both the police's and the citizens' perspectives. The evaluation aims to answer questions about how the weapon is used, its impact on police work, and the relationship with the public.
The police are examined regarding how often and in which situations CEW are used, as well as how this affects the use of other means of force and overall violence. It is also analysed how the weapon affects the police's ability to fulfil their tasks, their interactions with citizens, perceived safety, and the occurrence of injuries. Furthermore, the weapon's effectiveness is evaluated, including whether it meets a previous need and any physical and tactical challenges. Additionally, it is investigated whether gender, age, and experience influence the experiences of the CEW.
For the citizens, the evaluation focuses on their perceptions of the police's use of means of force, especially CEW, and how this affects trust in the police and the willingness to make contact.
Methodologically, an experience-based evaluation is conducted, relying on subjective experiences from police officers collected via surveys, interviews, and focus groups. The aim is to identify what has worked, what challenges have arisen, and what lessons can be learned. The survey is based on previous research and adapted to police working conditions. It will be distributed during the spring of 2025, two years after the weapon's introduction. Interviews and focus groups will be conducted during 2025.
For the citizens, a web-based survey will be conducted in the spring of 2025, focusing on trust in the police and views on CEW.
