Widespread concern among Norwegian youth for attacks

Almost half of young people aged 12-16 plan where and when they can move in public spaces to avoid being attacked, according to a new Norwegian survey. At the same time, the dark figure is large.

Even though immigration to Norway has not reached the levels of Sweden, the country also faces significant problems with multiculturalism leading to increased and more serious crime.

The survey, which is now gaining attention in the neighboring country, was conducted by the National Center for Violence and Traumatic Stress Studies, NKVTS. The research is sponsored by, among others, the Ministry of Justice.

The data includes responses from 6,721 young people aged 12 to 16 and provides important insight into how young people themselves experience vulnerability and concern about crime in their daily lives.

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The results, reported by Human Rights Service, show that many young people are subjected to various forms of unwanted incidents and crimes, and that girls are more worried than boys about being in their neighborhood after dark. Therefore, many girls plan more than boys how to avoid becoming victims of crime.

As many as 45 percent state that they plan when and where they can go to protect themselves from crime.

Sound skepticism

The project manager at NKVTS, Else-Marie Augusti, says that young people’s preparedness for criminal acts when they are in public spaces can be seen as “sound skepticism.”

“At the same time, we want our young people to be as carefree as possible. Both this and previous research show a clear connection between being exposed to crime and criminality, and having a lower quality of life with symptoms of anxiety, depression, and physical problems. In combination with the degree of exposure that the young people in this study report, it is stressful for them to have both concerns and to have been exposed. It becomes a double burden, especially since we see that they do not seek help or tell adults about the concerns they have,” says Augusti.

One in four boys and one in five girls have experienced serious physical violence such as being kicked, punched with a fist or a hard object, or abused outside the home. One in six girls and one in ten boys in the survey have been subjected to physical, sexual, and peer abuse in the past year.

Youth rarely share their experiences with their parents or the police. As a result, the abuses remain invisible in the justice system and support system.

Multicultural result

The survey is also highlighted by the national conservative Norgesdemokratene.

“Here is the result of 50 years of large-scale immigration,” the party writes on Facebook.

All parties in parliament support a policy that will exacerbate this problem. The 80s American films about school violence and dangerous streets are now a reality here in Norway.

The politicians were warned, but chose to ostracize those who warned rather than stop the development.