Research project The project examines how routine arming in the Norwegian police is practiced and how it affects task performance, risk perception, use of force, and interactions with the public.
The project examines how routine arming in the Norwegian police is practiced and how it affects task performance, risk perception, use of force, and interactions with the public. The study includes armed officers, command-and-control centers, and police students, and employs a combination of quantitative data, interviews, and, where applicable, observations. The findings are intended to provide practice-oriented insights and long-term strategic decision support for the police organization at the national level.
The purpose of the project is to collect and systematize knowledge about how routine arming is practiced within the Norwegian police and the significance it has for task performance, risk perception, use of force, and interactions with the public. The project aims to contribute both practice-oriented and strategic knowledge, as well as to serve as a basis for decision-making for police leadership and training activities.
The study includes police employees who currently serve under routine arming, in accordance with the decision of the Norwegian Police Directorate from 1 July 2025. In addition, operators at command-and-control centers—who are responsible for directing operations and conducting risk assessments—are included, as well as police students, to enable analyses of how attitudes toward risk and the use of force develop over time.
The project examines the extent of threats involving and use of firearms, how routine arming affects the use of other means of force, and how arming is practiced across different types of assignments. It also analyses how routine arming influences police operational practices, cooperation with other emergency services, perceived safety, and the occurrence of injuries among both police personnel and counterparts. Particular emphasis is placed on risk assessment and risk perception, as well as the factors that shape them, such as experience, collegial narratives, and media events.
Methodologically, the project employs a mixed-methods approach combining quantitative and qualitative data. Quantitative data are used to identify patterns and relationships, while interviews provide in-depth insights into experiences, assessments, and practices. Observations of police work may also be included.
